Student Employment and Internships

Whether you call it a part-time job, internship, experiential learning or volunteerism, it is important for you to get real world experience before you leave college.

Student Employment

Full-time students at IU South Bend have a variety of employment options available while they pursue their degrees. A CSO counselor, an academic advisor, or a faculty member can help you determine which employment option best suits your needs.

Types of Employment

There are different types of employment available to full-time students at IU South Bend. Each has its own focus and its own value within the life of a student. With the help of a CSO Counselor, Academic Advisor, Faculty Mentor or someone else, determine which employment type best suits your needs at this point in your education.

1. An Internship provides the all-important ‘real world’ experience before you leave college. It also has the potential to yield academic credit.
2. A Part-time Job offers ‘real world’ experience (although perhaps not in your field) along with a pay check. Part-time work can be found almost anywhere, but can be more conducive to your education when it’s organized by the university.
   • Student Employment refers to positions specifically intended to be filled by students. They all accommodate student schedules. Most of them are on campus. Many of them require Work Study eligibility.
   • Off-campus Work Study refers to off-campus positions with organizations that are part of the Work Study program.

What is Work Study?

The Federal Work Study Program was created to stimulate and promote part‐time employment for students who have financial need and who need earnings to pursue a college education. It allows students to meet their educational expenses without incurring a lot of debt and is intended to provide worthwhile job opportunities for qualified students. To participate, you must be a financial aid recipient with Federal Work Study (Work study) award eligibility.

Your Work Study award contributes more than financial assistance to your college education. It offers you additional advantages—education plus job experience. In increasingly competitive job markets, employers seek applicants who have employment as well as academic experience. Your award may also provide:

• Practical training and experience in your chosen field
• Positive job experience to help you identify career objectives
• Experience to your résumé and recommendations from employers

Contact Financial Aid to find out if you qualify.

Benefits of an Internship

Internships provide an opportunity to:

• Explore a potential career field
• Develop career related skills and abilities
• Expand existing knowledge
• Integrate classroom theory with real-life experiences
• Experience professional level challenges
• Improve your marketability upon graduation

Eligibility Requirements

Internship Variables

Determining Your Career Goal

Matching Goals with Internships

Locating Internship Opportunities