Student Employment | Resumes

Student Employment

Working while in college can help you develop a number of skills that are transferable to life after JMU. Part-time jobs provide an opportunity for you to gain work experience, develop confidence and good work habits, and earn money for tuition and college expenses. In fact, studies show that students who work while in college have higher confidence levels and better time management skills than those who do not. While working part-time may be too much on your plate in your first year, for some, it helps with time management, balance, and a sense of accomplishment. Take a moment to at least consider the opportunity and learn what is available.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re considering student employment:

• Am I flexible and willing to make sacrifices? Am I open to cutting down on some of the things I like to do in my free time to fulfill my academic and work commitments?
• How does my family feel about me working
• Do I make effective use of my time? In other words, can I fit in work, maintain my academics, and still get enough sleep?
• Will the job be flexible around my life as a student?

On- and Off-Campus Employment

Looking for a part-time job? The Student Work Experience Center (SWEC) at JMU is an office dedicated to enhancing student learning by providing meaningful work experiences. They organize and maintain available part-time student employment opportunities.

There are many different jobs available on campus, including working in academic departments, student services, dining, etc. The benefit about working on campus is that the jobs are student-friendly in terms of working around class schedule and workload. On-campus work will be designated FWS, (Federal Work Study), or IE (Institutional Employment). Any student can apply for an IE position; however, students can only apply for FWS if a student is eligible based on their financial aid package.  Positions posted are only currently available positions, so keep checking back!

The SWEC website also lists available part-time off-campus job openings, important resources, frequently asked questions, and much more. If you have other questions, contact the folks in SWEC at studentjobs@jmu.edu, visit them on the 5th floor of the Student Success Center or call 540/568-3269.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing

Need help creating your resume or writing a cover letter? It’s not too early to begin thinking about your resume. No matter how much or how little experience you have, thinking about and creating a professional resume at this stage may help you imagine opportunities and set goals for the future. Take a look at the resume and cover letter resources we have available at Career & Academic Planning (CAP). Or, better yet, attend a Resume Writing Workshop. Find the dates, times, and locations of all the workshops on the Career & Academic Planning Calendar on our homepage.

Once you’ve put something down on paper, you can schedule a one-on-one appointment with me or any of the other advisors in CAP to get feedback on how to improve. Remember, once you’ve declared and moved on to your major advisor, I will still be here to help you with resumes, cover letters, the internship/job search, and so on.

Drop-In Hours | Add/Drop Deadline

Drop-In Hours

During drop-in hours, I will see students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Check-in at the front desk of Career & Academic Planning (3210 Student Success Center) during the following hours if you want to meet:

Office Hours:
Monday (1/12): 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday (1/13): 10 a.m. - 12 p.m & 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Beginning Wednesday, January 14, you'll need to schedule an appointment. Please remember I work during business hours, which are 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.

IS 202

If open sections do not fit with your schedule, complete the IS 202 Override Request Form. Even if none of the sections (closed or open) fit with your schedule, please complete this form. There’s an option that “none of the sections fit with my schedule, but I want to take the course.” Finally, attending the first class is required to be able to take the course. Overrides are not given if you missed the first class.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Add/Drop Deadline

Tuesday, January 20 is the add/drop deadline; therefore, it’s your last opportunity to drop a class without receiving a “W” on your transcript or add a course without the Department Head’s signature. If you change courses after Friday, January 16, then you’ve already missed one week of class, so there will be a lot of work to make-up.  Carefully consider adjusting your schedule at the beginning of the first week of classes to avoid missing too much class. You can adjust your schedule on MyMadison. If you change your schedule, be sure that you are still completing all of the Cluster One courses you need to complete by the end of your first-year. If you have questions or want to discuss this, visit your advisor during the drop-in hours posted above.