By Hannah Gray
In fall 2006, professor Hans Nordstrom, director of the Math Resource Center, had to advertise in order to fill positions.
Now, in 2009, students are coming to him directly. And he has even had to turn away a few.
"It's a big hiring process in the spring when I have to fill those spots," Nordstrom said.
Many campus employers are seeing this trend, such as Espresso UP, the Moreau Center, Recreational Services and the library.
The interest for jobs within the department started at the end of last semester. Students were being more proactive job-hunters, according to Carol Bruce, College of Arts and Sciences office manager for math and communication studies.
"More students are seeking out the position of grader," Bruce said.
Nordstrom hired about six graders for this academic year at the end of last semester. He employs about 12 graders now and is considering adding a few more.
The Student Employment Office has processed 1,010 referral forms, as of last Friday according to Kacy Keippela, Student Employment coordinator.
Referral forms are work contracts between the student and the employer.
"So many students need to work," Keippela said. "You may not get your first choice, but you take any job you can." Also, advisers are not having any trouble filling positions, according to Keippela.
The big thing that students don't know, but should, is that you have to have a passport, birth certificate or social security card in order to work on campus, Keippela said.
Some jobs attract more interest than others.
Espresso UP had over 20 applicants for three barista positions. Many of the students who applied were freshmen, according to Bethany Sills, assistant director for Student Activities and multicultural coordinator.
While Espresso UP was swamped with applicants, Sills has seen little interest in the diversity coordinator position, with only three current applicants, as of last Friday.
The position of Diversity coordinator is a contract job, as opposed to an hourly job like barista - a possible reason students were more interested in the barista job over the coordinator position.
"I imagine it has something to do with it feels more daunting - it requires more educational knowledge," Sills said. Whereas, the barista job is seen as a more exciting and fun position.
One of the most competitive jobs is hall receptionist.
"Hall receptionist is the most sought after job on campus for residential students," Katie Cashman, Fields hall director, said.
While most of the hall receptionists for Fields and Schoenfeldt were returnees, 25 percent of the positions had to be reserved for freshmen, according to Cashman.
Fields and Schoenfeldt, for the three opening positions, had about 20 applicants. However, most who were considered for the hall receptionist jobs are employed in the activities room in the basement, according to Noel Peterson, Fields assistant hall director.
Work study was the first aspect considered when hiring the Fields and Schoenfeldt hall receptionists. Next was the flexibility of the student's schedule, according to Peterson.
Students are trying to work as much as they can, either to help out with expenses or just to pocket money for later.
"My parents aren't working, so just in case, I want some money for savings," Maximillian Lilly, one of the freshmen who was granted a hall receptionist job in Fields and Schoenfeldt.
In Mehling Hall, two positions are open. After the applicant deadline, about 20 applications hit the desk of Holly Brookshire, the Mehling assistant hall director.
"Priority will go to the first -year students," Brookshire said.
Mehling has 13 hall receptionists, an increase from last year. Unlike the other dorms, Mehling is the only one to have more than 12 hall receptionists. 11 returnees were hired last spring, according to Brookshire.
Desire for hall receptionist jobs has increased, due to a financial need and location.
"I want to try to pay for my school tuition as much as possible," sophomore Alisha Kaulia, a Mehling hall receptionist, said. The convenience adds to the appeal of the job, said Kaulia.
The Moreau Center has a Community Service Work Study program that allows students who are eligible for work study to apply for a job at a non-profit within the community.
For a job that doesn't normally pay, this is a way for students to work as an intern while being paid, according to Michelle Chang, the program assistant.
Already, about 90 applicants have applied for 55 open positions. The Moreau Center does the initial screening and then sends the resumés to the non-profits, according to Chang.
"Jobs are going fast," Chang said.
The Moreau Center hired 20 student leaders last spring, and only has one position still open - co-coordinator of the Civil Rights Immersion. There was an increase in interest for jobs last semester.
The Moreau Center did more advertising last semester, which added to an additional awareness. However, the increase in interest for jobs reflects the current recession, with not enough jobs, said Melissa Marley, the administrative assistant for the Moreau Center.
Recreational services employ about 75 students - a popular area of jobs.
Some jobs are intramural sports officials, outdoor pursuits trip leaders, lifeguards, fitness instructors, front desk attendants and program leaders in all areas, said Brian Dezzani, the director for Recreational Services, in an e-mail.
For two front desk positions, Recreational Services was swarmed with over 80 applicants. In all, Recreational Services has received over 100 applications for the various jobs it had available, according to Dezzani.
For the jobs that were available and filled, the students hired were the quickest ones.
"It really came down to those students who were online the morning the jobs went online and applied immediately," Dezzani said. "Things move fast in the digital age."
Another source of popular jobs is the library.
Four departments are within the library - circulation, reference, graphics lab and technical services. All hire students.
For the circulation department alone, 35 students are employed. About 10 positions were available at the start of this year, which brought in over 30 applicants, according to Margaret Hardy, a circulation supervisor.
"Who we hire is largely based on people's available hours," Hardy said. "We're hiring for specific shifts."
