At Kellogg Community College, many students are often looking for employment opportunities. While students might be aware of Career Services and what they provide, they may not be aware of the benefits of working at KCC.
With departments hiring when they have positions available, a student can work anywhere from Student Life to Academic Advising to the IT Department. A student must be taking six credits at KCC, or three credits during the summer in order to work as a student worker.
There are many reasons why working at KCC is beneficial to students. Students are able to work where they go to school, with many students scheduling their shifts around their classes, to save themselves the trip.
Oliwia Luniewska, a student worker in Admissions, says the best part is, “the employers’ understanding towards students … They [give] us the advantage of doing homework at work and choosing our own schedule.”
A common thing to hear is that “you’re a student worker, not a worker student,” meaning that your employers encourage you to prioritize your education.
Antonia Keith, who works in the Hub, agrees, saying, “I like how I can choose my schedule when scheduling for the new semester and my boss does their best to accommodate it.”
Another benefit to working at KCC is that the employees make sure the safety of the student workers is prioritized. On occasion, there are people at the school who get frustrated and take out their frustrations on whoever they speak to about it, which is sometimes the student worker. When a visitor is being rude or aggressive to a student worker, employees steer them away to talk to them so that the student worker isn’t being subjected to the tirade.
Joyce Benne, another student worker in Admissions, says, “Knowing that my safety is taken seriously makes me feel comfortable and confident in my work environment … knowing I have the support I need at KCC.”
Many student workers at KCC go on to be full-time employees of KCC, such as Michael Goldin, chair of the Math and Science Department; Drea Fox, who works in the Nursing Department; and Brandy Toler, receptionist with Career Services, who says of going from student worker to employee, “You have a deeper understanding of KCC standards, policies and systems that we use. This gives you an advantage compared to other applicants.”
You can look for student employment opportunities through Handshake, the website Career Services at KCC uses, which is accessible at kellogg.joinhandshake.com.
Working at KCC can also help a student get experience in their field of study. For example, experiencing an office job or working with an IT department. There are anywhere from 80 to100 student worker positions at KCC, all of which help the college run smoothly. Pay starts at $13 an hour, with biweekly pay.
Being a student worker helps you build your resume for future employment opportunities, and, since you can work for the duration of your time at KCC, gives you longevity in a job. There are no issues with taking time off if needed. Students have had family or personal crises in the past and been able to take as much time off as they’ve needed, with no penalty.
The best time to apply to be a student worker is right before the fall semester starts, though hiring can occur year-round. Students can work up to 20 hours per week, or up to anywhere from 32 to 38 when classes aren’t in session. Many student workers are able to share positive experiences through working at KCC, and can encourage others looking for a job to pursue the same path.
