For many incoming freshmen, "getting settled" means more than finding classrooms, dorms and books -- it also means finding a job.
Because over 40 percent of students qualify for work-study positions, there is a significant student workforce in Hanover. In fact, over $3 million is paid out yearly in wages to nearly 1,200 students who hold jobs at Dartmouth, according to the Director of the Student Employment office, Ann Affleck.
Affleck said that in addition to this number hundreds more are employed off-campus.
Dartmouth students do everything from baby-sitting to organizing fund-raisers to computer programming. Minimum wage currently is $5.75 per hour, and students typically work for 8-10 hours per week.
Many students work to earn money as part of their financial aid packages or just to gain some spending money during the academic year. Whatever the reason, the best place to begin a job hunt is the computer.
Student Employment Office JOBNET is an on-line database that is maintained by the Student Employment Office at the College. Updated daily, it contains a comprehensive list of on-campus and local area jobs available to Dartmouth students.
Presently, over 1,400 jobs exist in the database. It can be accessed from any campus computer through the Dartmouth College Information Service Navigator.
In addition, the College has a Career Services Office to assist students in all aspects of job hunting, including: locating available positions, writing resumes and cover letters, and interviewing. The office is located on the third floor of the Collis Center.
The most obvious place to look for a job is on campus. Almost every service or department has some kind of student job waiting to be filled.
These jobs offer the advantage of convenience and flexibility -- many on-campus employers understand the restrictions class schedules and D-plans place on their student workers, and will try to accommodate.
Two main employers on campus are the libraries and Dartmouth Dining Services.
DDS employs between 150 and 200 students each term, according to DDS Personnel Administrator Kelly Mousley. Student employees receive many benefits including extended meal plans and opportunities of promotion to supervisor positions.
About 100 students work in Baker Library every term. Their job descriptions include working the information desk, filing books and maps, copying, and finding reserve books.
Another common job is student monitor. Monitors work at Hopkins Center, the gym, and Collis. They are responsible for answering questions and directing people, and, at the gym, for checking people in. Students like these occasionally monotonous jobs because they can use the down time to do homework.
Hoards of students fill various "assistant" positions available: assistant organizer, assistant filer, outreach assistant, buildings and grounds assistant. These jobs usually involve work that varies depending on the daily needs of the department, but will almost certainly include the copy machine and file drawer.
Tutoring positions are also widely available. The Composition Center in Baker Library hires tutors to read student papers and assist with writing skills.
The Academic Skills Center also hires qualified students as tutors and study group leaders. Those who speak foreign languages can apply to be drill instructors for the beginning language classes. A note of caution to late risers -- drill instructing often involves a 7:45 a.m. commitment four days a week. But don't worry, there is also a 5 p.m. option for those who would prefer to sleep in.
Virtually every department offers an "intern" position. These can be more competitive because interns will shadow the work of the department, often handling and coordinating projects.
Intern positions are often for a fixed time period only, such as one year.
Students who prefer to work off-campus can take advantage of the town of Hanover, which includes several stores and restaurants that hire students as wait staff and sales associates. The advantage students have here is their age -- Hanover businesses use student workers to attract student customers.
Many of the jobs offered through the College give preference to work-study-designated students. Under the federal program, Dartmouth receives a grant from the federal government in order to subsidize job opportunities for those on financial aid, according to the Student Handbook.
The grant normally covers about 85 percent of the minimum College wage. Another advantage of work-study wages is that they are almost completely tax-free. The program was started as an incentive to universities to aid the creation of jobs in order to employ students demonstrating need.
An extension of the Federal Work Study program is the Community Service Program, which allows students to apply the same work-study pay and tax exemptions to non-profit organizations within the local community.
Examples of this type of job are the student internships offered by the nearby Montshire Museum. The museum is located in Norwich, Vermont, so it affords its student workers the opportunity to leave Hanover for a guaranteed time-period every week.
Similarly, the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center employs students as interns and office assistants. The Medical Center is located just south of campus, and a bus service provides free transportation through an agreement between Advanced Transit and Dartmouth.
In addition, many exotic jobs can be found through JOBNET. For example, the Town of Hanover is looking for a student to work in traffic management, the New Hampshire National Guard is looking for a Pneudraulic Mechanic and the Dartmouth Organic Farm is looking for a manager.
The Student Employment Office -- where most of these job opportunities can be accessed -- is located in the basement of Thayer Dining Hall.
