On-Campus Jobs

Part-time Employment 

• Students seeking on-campus job opportunities may search Handshake. 
• Students may also seek employment by visiting offices, departments, and other organizations of their choice. In either case, the student is responsible for interview arrangements, salary agreements, and working hours.
• On-campus student employees are hired for an average of 10-20 hours per week, are paid bi-weekly and are not eligible for benefits such as holiday, vacation, or sick pay. 
• Texas A&M- Corpus Christi is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, nor other aspects of off-campus employment. It is the responsibility of students to research the integrity of the organizations to which they are applying. Students are advised to use caution and common sense when applying for any position with an organization or private party. 
• Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi makes neither representations nor guarantees about positions listed in Handshake. 
• All job announcements coming from the Career Center will be sent from Handshake or career.center@tamucc.edu. Be aware of potential job scams sent to islander student emails from other student email accounts. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. 

Federal or Texas College Work Study 

The Federal and Texas College Work Study Programs provide on-campus, part-time employment for U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and Senate Bill 1528 students who are enrolled at least half-time hours, filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Texas Application for Student Financial Aid (TASFA), and have demonstrated a financial need. Eligible students are awarded funds from the Financial Aid office semesterly.

• Steps to Search for Work Study Jobs:
  • Confirm work study eligibility in your SAIL account under Awarded Financial Aid or contact the Financial Aid Office at 361-825-2338.
  • Once work study is confirmed contact the Career and Professional Development Center (361-825-2628) to have work study added to your Handshake Account.
  • Search Handshake for job opportunities.
• Students employed using work study funds work an average of 10-20 hours per week depending upon their work study award. 

On-Campus Internships 

• What is an internship? 
  • A meaningful work experience that is interest or major-related, and has a learning component. 
  • A short-term experience, usually lasting one or two semesters. 
  • Paid or compensated through hourly wage, scholarship, grant, or stipend. 
  • For-credit internships can be completed within your academic department by enrolling in an internship course. Some degree plans require an internship prior to graduation and some degree plans provide internships as an elective. If you wish to request academic credit for your internship, you must contact your department directly. Not all departments give academic credit for internships. Start by asking your academic advisor. 
  • Please remember when pursing a for-credit internship, the internship may come with additional responsibilities for the internship supervisor. Students should communicate clearly to the prospective employer what those responsibilities will be. 

On-Campus Partners

• Visit with your faculty members about additional opportunities such as graders, teaching and research assistants, lab assistants, etc.  
• You may also search for opportunities with additional on-campus employers
  • Dining Services (Chartwells)
  • Campus Bookstore (Follett)

• First assess your availability and interests. Here are some questions to consider: 
  • How many hours per week are you available to work? 
  • What days of the week will work with your class schedule and extracurricular activities? 
  • Are you eligible for work study? Some jobs require or prefer work study so finding out in advance will help you in determining for which jobs you are eligible to apply. 
  • Are there certain types of jobs in which you are more interested? 
  • Do you want to work for a specific department or type of business? 
  • Are there any jobs that will help build your resume for your future career plans? 
  • What skills and past work experiences do you have that will benefit an employer? 
• Update your resume and cover letter customizing for each position. Meet with your career counselor for a resume/cover letter review or join us at our weekly resume café. 
• Search for Jobs and Apply on Handshake

• You’ve applied for a job and now they want to meet you! This is your opportunity to communicate to the potential employer your unique qualities. However, interviews can be very intimidating and without proper preparation and practice your opportunity could be wasted.  
  • Research the department and job description.
  • Anticipate questions and prepare responses
  • Develop a list of questions to ask the interviewer yourself. Review your unique skills and qualities. Study your resume and job description. Practice answering questions. 
    • Schedule a mock interview with your career counselor or use Quinncia to practice.

• What to take to your interview:
  • Notepad and pen 
  • Extra resumes 
  • Copies of your reference list 
  • Work Study certificate (if applicable) 
  • Days and hours you are available to work (a printed copy of your class schedule)

• Dress 
  • Make sure your interview clothes fit, have no stains and feel comfortable for sitting and talking. Try to find out ahead of time what would be considered appropriate dress for this particular organization/office. A safe bet for most student employment interviews would be  dress pants and a polo or button-up dress shirt (business casual). Some may choose to wear a skirt and blouse or dress. 
  • If you need help with attire please contact the Career and Professional Development Center.

• During the Interview 
  • Arrive early- ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled appointment time. 
  • Do not chew gum or candy. 
  • Make eye contact and shake hands firmly. 
  • Focus on what you can do for the organization/office, not vice versa. 
  • Explain how your unique skills will help them meet their goals. 
  • Never answer with just a “yes” or “no”. Elaborate! 
  • Show an eagerness to work. 
  • Be positive and energetic. 
  • Stay calm and cool-headed. 
  • Be serious and professional. 
  • Don’t discuss your personal life. 
  • Avoid slang, profanity, and pause words (umm, well, etc.) 
  • Maintain eye contact. 
  • Nod, smile and let your face show interest. 

• After an interview you may want to send a quick email thanking the employer and interview committee for their time in considering you for the position.  This gives you one more chance to make a good impression. If you haven’t heard a final decision within 14 days, you should follow up by email or phone.