Skip to main content

For Students

Welcome to student employment in Student and Campus Life!

Whether you are looking for a job or currently working on campus, these resources help you navigate the process, find answers to questions, and better understand what it means to be a student employee in SCL.

Ella Hsu '25

"I have bettered my coordination and time management skills. I am learning how to coordinate all the pieces of the puzzle and navigate moving parts. I am reading job applications, interviewing, identifying placement, and orienting new hires. I also share my role with a colleague which requires coordinating logistics in real-time." - Ella Hsu '25, Student Hiring Assistant and Sale Associate, The Cornell Store

SCL Employment Options:  

There are so many different student employment opportunities including  working at the Cornell Store and at various eateries with Cornell Dining to working with Residential Life and Cornell catering or Conference & Event Services

Employment Opportunities at Student and Campus Life

Did you know Cornell Dining, one of the biggest student employers, offers free meals in addition to great pay and a convenient, social work environment? And, you can help promote these vital campus resources working with Campus Life Marketing & Communications.

Get paid to exercise! Cornell Fitness Centers (CFC) hires over 200 students each year as fitness instructors and monitors. Whether you are interested in working with the fitness centers as a Fitness Monitor, Group Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer, or be a student official for Intramural Sports, or a Lifeguard at the pools, there are plenty of opportunities available. And, all CFC staff get a free membership.

Interested in advising others? Consider becoming a Resident Advisor in the residential community where you live or helping new students at the Tatkon Center for New Students.

The Community Work-Study Program, sponsored by Cornell's David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, enables Cornell Federal Work-Study students to work for nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities in the Ithaca and Tompkins County region. Opportunities offered include working in the arts, after-school and classroom settings, sustainability and environmental programs, health services, legal services, information technology, public works and engineering departments, women's and children’s advocacy and animal care.

Centers and units within the Office of the Dean of Students hires paid student staff to fill a variety of roles, including program planning, outreach, publicity and advocacy, and they serve as mentors to a vibrant group of volunteer interns. Explore an area you are interested in and research the opportunities available.

There are a number of student employment opportunities within the Campus Activities group. Roles may vary from program planning and interpersonal engagement to print marketing and social media.

Looking ahead to life after Cornell?

Shom Abraham MS '22
"Our work was a team-based task where a group of individuals came together to work on a particular book. This job allowed me to collaborate and bond together with other individuals while we supported each other in successfully completing the job on hand."
- Shom Abraham MS '22, Document Conversion Assistant, Accessible Media Resource Center (AMRC), Student Disability Services (SDS)

Cornell Career Services can help you take control of your future! Contact and visit for help with your career exploration, resumes, graduate and professional school advising, legal careers, internship and full-time job searches, fellowships, and more.

Further, leverage the Career Development Toolkit and Handshake as valuable resources to explore and move towards your professional goals.

And so many other opportunities just waiting for you! Every unit in SCL has opportunities to welcome you to learn, grow and connect – no matter your interest or passion.

Finding a Job:

Student and Campus Life employs hundreds of student employees in a wide variety of on-campus jobs each year. Conveniently, all campus jobs are housed within the WorkDay platform. Below you will find resources to help you search and apply for jobs.

Most units hire in the spring or summer for fall openings. Though some units are always hiring.Watch this short video to learn how to use WorkDay to search and apply for student employment.To search current job opportunities, login to WorkDay with your NetID and Password and search Find Jobs - student in the search field at the top of the page. From there, you can see all current job postings and apply. Log in to Workday

WorkDay logo






 

 

WorkDay: Federal Work Study

All positions note if they are federal work study eligible. Each position also lists a pay range as well as start and end dates and weekly hours.

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program is a federally funded financial aid program administered by Cornell University, and is designed to assist students in meeting the costs associated with higher education by promoting access to meaningful work experiences. Work Study does not mean that students are paid to study, but rather work in jobs to earn money. The standard amount of the work expectation is $3,500, funded by Cornell and FWS.

Get ahead with Cornell Career Services

The Cornell Career Services website has many resources available to assist you with preparing your application for a student job. Staff are available to help you explore job options that best fit your interests and help you prepare your application.

Getting Started:

Congratulations. Now that you are on the path to becoming a student employee of SCL, there are a few things that you need to do before your first day of work.

Onboarding

Onboarding refers to the process through which you are hired as an SCL employee and learn how to perform the duties and responsibilities of your new job. While each department has a unique onboarding process, all new student employees must complete certain required forms.

Receiving an Offer

Anna Wilkins '22
"As the student manager, I have had the opportunity to help lead our amazing student team! I have been able to run our meetings, ensure that all team members have the resources they need to be successful, and create our office schedule." - Anna Wilkins '22, Student Manager in the Campus Activities Office

When you receive a job offer, you will be given the pay rate for the position, hour/schedule expectations and employment period. Review those carefully to ensure you understand the expectations for the position prior to accepting the role. If you have questions about any of those items, reach out to the hiring manager to have a conversation before accepting the position. Once you have accepted the position, you will have required items to complete before you are able to start working. Be on the lookout for follow-up emails to your Cornell email and complete all required tasks in a timely manner!Please refer to this new hire checklist for steps in the hiring process.

https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/hourly-employee-checklist.pdf

You will be required to complete an I-9 form prior to starting work. Please review this important information related to this process.Once you begin your position, here are a few resources that are useful in learning how to submit your hours worked and how to use a time clock if your position requires.

Important Dates

As a student employee balancing academic and job responsibilities, the following calendars, date, and deadlines are important.

Policies and Resources:

 

Below are resources on University policies related to student employment. You will find answers to nearly every question related to your new position.

Workplace Concerns

Student employees and employers are encouraged to discuss any work-related problems before commencing disciplinary action or a formal grievance. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment and the Office of the University Ombudsman are always available to assist both employees and employers in resolving work-related problems. Should such informal methods of resolution fail, a student employee may formally grieve an alleged violation of student employment policies under the terms of the student employee grievance procedure. Review student grievance procedures here.

If you do not find the answer to your question, reach out to Krista Saleet, director of SCL Career Initiatives and Employment Experiences, at ks2334@cornell.edu, 607-254-5599.

Finding Success:

 

Student employment is a great way to earn money and gain valuable experience. This information can help you make the most of it.

Developing a Strong Work Ethic

Joanne Wang '24
"As a student representative to the COE board, I’ve learned the importance of communication. When acting as a liaison between students, instructors, administration, and the Board, knowing how to communicate effectively is critical for making sure that all voices are heard and changes are made." - Joanne Wang '24, Trail Running Physical Education Instructor, Cornell Outdoor Education

The following are expectations for all student employees at SCL. Your supervisor may have additional requirements.

  • Establish a work schedule that does not interfere with your class schedule.
  • Notify your supervisor in advance of any changes to your work schedule or other commitments that will affect work availability.
  • Give advance notice when unable to work a scheduled shift.
  • Take the job seriously and perform at the highest level of your ability.
  • Treat your supervisor and fellow employees with respect.
  • Report to work on time. Notify your supervisor in advance of any possible delays.
  • Do not conduct personal business on the job.
  • Refrain from using cell phones while on the job.
  • Accurately report the hours you work. Falsifying your timesheet is a federal offense. If you make an error in entering your hours worked, let your supervisor know so the error can be corrected.
  • Give two weeks’ notice when resigning.
  • If you find yourself struggling with your commitments, have a conversation with your supervisor

Health and Wellness Resources

Our students’ health and well-being are the foundation of their success at Cornell and beyond. Student & Campus Life inspires and supports students towards the development of their best selves—in mind, body and spirit—and promotes their resilience and continued growth.

Student & Campus Life fosters students’ readiness to learn and participate fully in the Cornell experience by creating an environment where they can thrive, flourish, and live life with vitality and meaning. Our ability to be role models and support each other’s health and well-being is a critical component in creating success.

Time and Stress Management Resources

Stress and time management are often intertwined. It can be stressful and overwhelming when you don’t feel like you’re on top of your work, so it’s important to make–and enact–a good time management plan for yourself.