Student Job Search Timeline
Additional Resources
Preparation
The job search preparation is the first step in finding the right position for you.
- Create your Handshake profile. Handshake is WCU’s job board that connects you with on- and off-campus internship and job opportunities.
- Create or update your resume. Resumes highlight your experience, education, and skills. Your resume acts as a first impression, allowing you to introduce your qualifications to the employer, and is an important component in landing an interview.
- Get your resume reviewed. Access free online resume reviews anytime through ResumeAI or schedule time to review your resume with Career Center staff.
- Upload your resume to Handshake. Once you feel confident in the final draft of your resume, you can make it visible to employers on Handshake.
- Network. Networking is the process of making connections and building relationships with people, usually in your career field of interest. Networking is a great way to build your web of contacts that can help support you on your professional development journey.
- Practice interview questions and use Big Interview to build confidence. This online mock interview tool combines training and practice to help improve interview skills and prepare for phone, in-person, and/or Zoom interviews.
Search
The search process is the time to evaluate your professional goals, explore opportunities, and build connections.
- Review job postings in Handshake to see what positions interest you. Take note of the required document(s) needed to apply as well as the job responsibilities, qualifications, and details.
- Learn more about the job and department you might be working in. Review the job posting closely and check out your future employer’s departmental website and social media presence.
- An interview may be scheduled to assess your qualifications and abilities. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the job, department and team you might be working with. Come prepared with interview materials and questions.
- After successfully completing the interview process, you may receive a job offer from the Hiring Manager. Take your time and evaluate the offer before making your decision. Consider factors like your class schedule and existing extracurricular commitments to make sure it is the right fit for you.
- Once you accept a job offer, you will receive information from the Office of Human Resources to advise on the onboarding process. If your employee type is Federal Work Study or Graduate Assistant, you will be sent a contract through DocuSign that must be signed and returned to HR prior to your start date.
Additional Resources
Federal Work Study Hourly Student Employee Onboarding Checklist
Non-Work Study Hourly Student Employee Onboarding Checklist
International Hourly Student Employee Onboarding Checklist
Resident Assistant Onboarding Checklist
Graduate Assistant Onboarding Checklist
Onboarding
The onboarding process integrates employees into our organization. Your onboarding process starts once you accept a job offer.
- Our goal is to make your onboarding experience quick and easy. Future employers will require you to complete similar onboarding steps. We are here to support you throughout this process.
- You may need to complete the following onboarding steps.
- Contracts: A contract is an employment agreement that must be signed and returned to accept a Federal Work Study (FWS) position or Graduate Assistantship (GA). Please note that FWS employees and Graduate Assistants will not be onboarded in our payroll systems and paid until the contract is signed.
- Hiring Forms: If applicable, hiring forms are sent to your WCU email address through DocuSign and must be completed prior to your first day of work. It is essential that you promptly complete the DocuSign packet of hiring forms to start the onboarding process. Before you begin, visit Form I-9 Acceptable Documents | USCIS for helpful information about documents required for the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification).
- Background Check Clearances: After you complete the necessary hiring forms, you will receive an email from the WCU Compliance Department and our background check vendor, CBY Professional Services, prompting you to begin the clearance process. Clearances are paid for by the University, when following the standard process outlined by the Compliance Department. We are not able to accept any clearances conducted outside of our process regardless of how recently you may have done them. It is crucial that you complete all clearance requests in a timely manner. You will not be authorized to work until all three clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, PA State Police Check, and FBI Check) are completed and submitted to the Compliance Department for review.
- In-Person Employment Eligibility (Form I-9) Verification: After completing the electronic I-9 form in DocuSign, federal law requires that WCU verify employment eligibility with an in-person review of original documents used to complete the I-9 form to ensure a legal hire. You must complete the in-person employment eligibility verification before you are eligible to work. We cannot accept electronic copies, photocopies, or photographs of the I-9 documents for the in-person requirement.
- FERPA Training: All employees are required to complete Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) training. West Chester University has a legal obligation to ensure compliance with the FERPA, which governs the release of, and access to, student education records. The Student FERPA Training module is assigned in D2L and should be completed in the initial days of employment.
- Vector Solutions Training: West Chester University we believe in the importance of creating a safe and healthy environment for all of our community members. In these self-paced training modules, you will gain the knowledge and skills to be an active, engaged member of our diverse campus community. The training will be sent to your WCU email address and should be completed in the initial weeks of employment.
- Students returning to work at WCU may need to recomplete the onboarding steps above depending on the break in service between your previous and new job. Please reach out to studentemployment@wcupa.edu with questions.
Pay
The Student Employment team collaborates with the Payroll Department to ensure you are paid timely and correctly.
- Once you complete the necessary onboarding steps, you can begin working. All employees are paid on a biweekly basis. View the Payroll Calendar to see paydays and holidays.
- eTime is the PASSHE time reporting system utilized for hourly employees. Hourly employees must enter and sign their hours worked to be paid. Check out eTime HELP for guided instructions.
- During the academic year, Graduate Assistants and Resident Assistants receive a biweekly stipend, and should not submit hours eTime. Resident Assistants may submit hours in eTime when on-call over breaks. Please discuss with your supervisor and reach out to studentemployment@wcupa.edu with any questions.