General Studies Lounge

As an undergraduate, I’ve worked at Columbia in several capacities. I’ve had both work-study and casual positions at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia Business School (CBS), Columbia Video Network (CVN), Lerner Hall, The School of Continuing Education-High School Summer Program and a few more.

You should approach finding employment here not just as a way to earn money, but take it as an opportunity to learn or refine skills that will be beneficial to you in the future.

If you are interested in working on campus, here are a few options you should try.

Websites

Federal Work-Study Jobs

If you are eligible to receive federal work study, there are a plethora of jobs available to you. Remember, just because work-study may not have been added to your financial aid package doesn’t mean you are not qualified to receive it. It’s in your best interest to check with Student Financial Services (SFS) to verify your eligibility.

On the SFS Federal Work Study site you can search for positions based on various characteristics (Summer, Temporary, Fewest Hours, Most Hours, etc.).

Casual Work

There are many non-work-study opportunities to earn money. Causal work can span from part-time administrative support to part-time technical support. Here is an opportunity for you to utilize skills you may already have to secure a position that pays more than the $12 work-study jobs are limited to.

You can find many of these positions on LionShare, the Center of Career Education’s employment website for students and alumni. Be sure to sign up for the “Temp Time” emails which alert you to some temporary ways to make money off campus.

You can also find employment options at Lerner Hall on their Student Jobs page.

Jobs at Columbia

Here is where the non-academic jobs at the University are listed. Many of these are full time postions, but there are some part-time jobs posted as well. These are salaried positions, so do not expect the flexibility you may enjoy with a casual or work-study job.

Person to Person Methods

Fliers and Wall Postings

Not all campus employers utilize these websites. Keep your eyes open and you will stumble on a lot of departments advertising available positions. There are fliers pretty much everywhere students are, in almost every building, eating area, stairwell, on push pin boards, etc. etc.

Word-of-mouth

Columbia is a galaxy. Every day I discover a new planet and the best way to find things here is to talk to people. If you’re looking for a job mention it to your friends, to professors you are on good terms with, to administrators, to anyone you talk to. Oftentimes people are aware of jobs you may need, they just have to know that you are looking.

Academic Departments and Research Assistants

You can earn money doing basic clerical work at a department or institute on campus. There is also the option of working for a professor as a research assistant. You can discover these opportunities via email when you sign up to be added to a list-serve. You can do this by either emailing the department or walking in to the office.

Applying for a Job 

How to go about getting these jobs could range anywhere from submitting a formal resume and cover letter to simply stopping by a department and asking about a flier you have seen. Every employer has a different set of expectations.

If you find out about a job online, there should be directions on how to apply with the job description. It never hurts to put on your most professional face. Even if you learn about an opportunity from a flier you’ve seen, it might be wise to email a resume to a contact person before you step into the office to inquire.

Best of luck with your search. If you have any questions, comments or sugesstions please let me know, mr2593@columbia.edu.

--Michael Rain