CU Â鶹ӰԺ employs thousands of students each semester. These on-campus jobs cover a wide range of functions, allowing students to find their perfect fit. As an A&S student employee, you can learn new skills, gain experience, build your network and earn money in a flexible, student-focused role.

For some A&S students, working on campus may be your first job. You can enhance your experience by learning how to contribute in a positive way that benefits both you and your team. Here are a few tips to make the most of your student job.

Ask questions and clarify expectations

Your supervisor should set the expectations and responsibilities for your position when you begin a new job. These expectations may include work hours, uniform or dress code, due dates for assignments, details about completing your job responsibilities and other topics to help you succeed at work.

Miscommunication can happen when people make assumptions. For example, you may assume it’s OK to arrive a few minutes late if your class runs over, but your supervisor may need you to arrive at the exact shift start time to have the necessary coverage. It’s best to ask questions to clarify expectations. It can sound like this: “Sometimes my last class before my shift runs late. If that happens, can I arrive at work a few minutes late, or should I change my shift to a different time?�

Communicate changes

You can develop the foundational skill of communication at your on-campus job, which can be useful now and in your future career. Communicating effectively with your supervisor will help them support you as you balance a part-time job and student responsibilities.

If you need to adjust your schedule, communicate these changes to your supervisor as soon as possible. When you start your job, ask your supervisor how they would like you to communicate changes—some may prefer a phone call, others prefer an email, etc. Learning the best method for timely communication will help you prepare for emergencies and avoid frustration with your work attendance and scheduling.

Practice time awareness

You can demonstrate time awareness by showing up to work on time and ready to start working. Talk with your supervisor to understand how to maximize your time at work. For example, clarify what projects and tasks you should prioritize and the due dates for projects. If you think a project or task might take longer than anticipated, communicate an updated timeline to your supervisor or team as soon as possible. These practices can make a good impression now and build habits to support your future career success.

Develop goals

Setting goals for your on-campus job can help you to be intentional with the skills you build. Goal setting can be done individually and with your supervisor or team. You can meet with your supervisor to discuss your current professional development goals and how to incorporate the goals into your tasks and projects. For example, you could work on public speaking, project management, event planning, content writing and other work tailored to skill development.

Track skills, experiences and accomplishments

No matter what your position is for your on-campus job, you are gaining experience and learning new skills. Tracking these skills and regularly updating your resume and online job profiles is important. Add the skills you develop through your role, leadership and project experiences, and highlight significant work accomplishments. You can explore MySkillsthrough Career Services to learn more about valuable skills for your job or internship search.

Tell your friends

You can help build the team of student employees here at CU Â鶹ӰԺ. If you love your job, tell your friends about your experience and encourage them to apply for an on-campus job. There is something for everyone, and part of a positive job experience is working with a motivated team. Check out open positions and share job opportunities with your friends. All student jobs are now posted in !

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As an A&S student, now is an excellent time to start thinking about what you can do this Fall for your future career success. Employers seek out students who have demonstrated skills through internships, relevant experiential projects and certificates. Additionally, students can use these experiences to understand their future career goals—what they want out of a job and who they want to work for. Students have access to innovative programs and opportunities to promote professional growth. These experiences add depth to your resume. They also provide examples to share during interviews to demonstrate your strengths and skills. Here are some opportunities to help you gain professional experience as an A&S student.

Find an internship

Internship experience is the most influential factor for employers when hiring A&S students, according to a job outlook survey by . This type of experience shows employers that students have direct experience applying their skills. Students at CU say that internships are one of the best experiential learning opportunities for helping them achieve their goals. Internships are also the perfect professional experience to try out your passions, build new skills and meet people who can help you find jobs. There are thousands of available internships that you can choose from on Handshake. Handshake makes it easy to find and apply to internships, many of which aren’t posted anywhere else. Career Services can help you prepare your resume for applications.

Earn a Google Career Certificate

Get ready to stand out in the job market and gain in-demand job skills for your future. You can now access free Google Career Certificates through Career Services. Learn from experts and get qualified for roles in fast-growing, high-demand fields, including cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management and UX design.

Google Career Certificates don’t require previous experience. You can complete the certificate program in three to six months with under 10 hours of flexible study per week. These certificates can demonstrate your initiative to learn on your own, show you have skills in specialized areas and help you stand out over other candidates.

Get an on-campus job

Student employees are a core piece of the CU Â鶹ӰԺ team. Working on campus can help A&S students learn skills, build a professional network and have a flexible work schedule. There are job opportunities for you all over campus in various roles. You can find on-campus jobs posted on Handshake. 

Learn about some of the departments that hire students, the types of jobs they offer and their current openings.

Simulate a job

It is hard to know what a job will be like until you try it out. Job simulations are an easy way to get a taste of what it is like to work for some of the world's biggest brands and top companies. Companies like Lululemon, JP Morgan, Lyft and Boston Consulting Group host great job simulations for CU students on Forage. 

Give back and build experience

Volunteer experience can help you learn new skills, meet new people and make a positive difference. The Volunteer Resource Center has excellent opportunities for A&S students to volunteer throughout the year with varying commitment levels and ways to contribute. Volunteering can be crucial to a future job or internship application to nonprofits or government agencies, and it can also help set you apart in your job search.

Set yourself up for success

Career Services helps A&S students position themselves for success through workshops, events, training and other resources. You can also meet with a peer career advisor during scheduled office hours or schedule an appointment with a career advisor.

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Now is the time to begin looking for a job or summer internship to complement your A&S degree. While industries may follow different hiring timelines, many companies are actively recruiting CU Â鶹ӰԺ A&S students for a variety of positions. Career Services offers resources to help you in your search.

Use Handshake

Your CU Â鶹ӰԺ Handshake account is ready for you! Career Services has customized tips and keyword searches for you to use to maximize your search. You can also use filters like job type, ‘remote opportunity’, and major to set up saved searches with criteria that match your interests/A&S degree. You’ll receive an email notification when employers post a new position that matches your search.

Take time to complete your Handshake profile to showcase your skills and experiences. When you have a more profile you are more likely to get job recommendations that match your skills, experience and preferences, and employers will be able to contact you directly about available opportunities. You can also use Handshake’s AI tool, Coco, to ask questions like: Where are interesting places to work in the Denver area? What industries are currently in high demand for people with my skills/degree?

Plan to attend career fairs

Find opportunities and connect with employers at career fairs this fall—particularly the Roam Anywhere Fair on 10/8. Career fairs are free online and in-person events where you can network and meet with recruiters who are hiring.

Review the schedule of upcoming career fairs and mark your calendar for the ones you’re interested in attending. Sign up to participate on Handshake and review the list of employers who will be attending. 

Students with complete Handshake profiles have a better chance of meeting one-on-one with employers at virtual fairs. Review these steps to complete your Handshake profile, and make sure it’s on the ‘public’ setting so employers can view it.

Work on your application materials

You want to act fast when you find an internship or job posting of interest to you. It can help to create a template resume and cover letter with your experience, skills and accomplishments. These core documents give you a starting point to tailor your experience and examples for each application. You can save time and focus more on adapting your documents rather than starting from scratch each time. 

Review tips from Career Services on how to perfect your resume and personalize your cover letter. These documents usually make the first impression with potential employers, so take the time to represent yourself well. 

Meet with others

You may feel like you don’t have a professional network yet, but you may be surprised to know you already have one. Your network includes previous employers, supervisors, A+S advisors, A&S professors, family friends—anyone who has supported your career growth or has the potential to do so. Now is a great time to reconnect and see if they know of upcoming opportunities. 

You can also build professional relationships with others in your field of interest. Join the Forever Buffs Network to start connecting with CU Â鶹ӰԺ alumni. They can help with resume feedback and interview preparation. And some may be open to informational interviews or mentoring. Your LinkedIn profile can help you build your network and find opportunities throughout your professional career. 

Start today

Job and internship searching can feel intimidating, but if you spend 10 minutes four times a week on your search, those small bits of time will add up before you know it. Sometimes, we may talk ourselves out of applying if we don’t think we meet all the qualifications listed in the description. If you’re interested in a position and believe you can do it well, apply—even if you don’t meet every item on the list. Most employers will interview candidates if they meet most of their criteria.

It can take some time to find an internship or job that’s right for you. Stay patient and persistent and know that Career Services is here to help you every step of the way.

For more tips, check out weekly programs and workshops from Career Services. These free workshops will share best practices for finding internships, preparing for career fairs and more.

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