Campus jobs for students tough to find

Junior Julia Dellaira and senior Connie Brandin dig into the dirt between the Strosacker Science Building and the Knorr Student Center. They're tearing up a small invasive plant making its way through campus. Dellaira is working for a third year tearing up plants, and Brandin is working on campus for her second semester. Both love their outdoor job in horticulture — especially in the winter, when things get busy.
"I love going into the Greenhouse — you take off your jacket and it's so warm," Brandin said.
For students seeking employment, there's little wiggle room. That's where the financial aid office steps in, advertising jobs on- and off-campus jobs for students — jobs that are increasingly hard to find at the semester goes on.
Dellaria said she saw a poster when she was a freshman offering on-campus jobs and never looked back. Brandin went through the administration in order to secure her job — a speciality of Financial Aid Counselor Jemie Hannon and Financial Aid Director Rich Moeggenberg.
Hannon, who organizes job postings on the web portal, said student employment averages at 63 precent, though last year employment reached 69 percent. She said she expects this year's employment rate to easily reach that level, if not surpass it. Which means trouble for students looking to be employed mid-year.
Hannon said demand for jobs is high, and though she hasn't had to yet, she may need to tell students that the financial aid office isn't aware of any jobs.
"It'd be nice to have more jobs," Hannon said.
In an email to faculty and staff, Hannon said a student working eight hours a week can earn up to $900 a semester and still maintain a fairly flexible schedule. Part time jobs are included, from babysitting to working in the mail room in Moss Hall.
Moeggenberg said he and Hannon act mainly as facilitators for students seeking jobs and send students to departments that best suit their skills or needs. He said some students are required to work as a part of their scholarships.
Moeggenberg said one direction student employment is moving toward is more internship style jobs. He said roughly 32 students are involved with the Student Opportunities and Activities and Rewards [SOAR] program, which aims at giving students a more internship style experience.
 Hannon said the SOAR program is budgeted $22,000 for students, which limits how many students can participate and how often students within the program can work – too many hours means student employees can go over budget.
Hannon said the SOAR program pays for students to take on experience at participating agencies, such as the Hillsdale Community Health Center where a worker within the desired field supervises students.
These opportunities, Moggenberg said, are growing. He said there are 32 students participating with 24 agencies involved with SOAR.
"It can't be a job flipping burgers," Moeggenberg said. "It has to have a project."
Leah Martin, Aide to the Physical Plant Director, said they hire twice a year: once in the fall and once in the summer. The positions, however, go fast, and depend on whether or not students are returning to work.
The move and set-up crew, which is entirely run by students, has been in operation for a little over four years and often has repeat workers. Martin said the move and set-up crew often helps set up for events, like Relay for Life. He said the crew is one of the more popular groups to work, and applications are filled over the summer with priority given to returning students.
"If we have nine returns coming in, we'll only have two spots available," Martin said.
Hannon said the office can only adverstise what employers tell her – sometimes employers fill spots before they let Hannon know an opening is available.
Moeggenberg said this shouldn't deter students seeking employment from coming into the Financial Aid office. But if the student knows the process, or the professors looking for student help, then it wouldn't hurt to darken their doors first.
As for Dellaira and Brandin, they'll keep working into the winter and spring – nine and seven hours respectively – as two of the three girls working in the grounds department.
"I couldn't ask for a better job," Dellaira said.
Brandin agreed, claiming a need for shirts and hats to be made for their positions as the "greenhouse girls."
"We keep the guys in line," Brandin said, as she pulled up another handful of weeds.