Work study is more than a form of financial aid, it is a way to get to know the campus and network with peers and professors you otherwise would never meet. This year I have had 3 different work-study jobs in three completely different departments: the first being the Costume Shop Fall semester.
As a mechanical engineering technology major, I wouldn't have needed to be in Class of 1944 Hall or the Collins Center of the Arts as none of my classes or lectures take place in either of these arts buildings. Without Pep-band and my semester in the Costume Shop, it is unlikely I would be able to navigate either of these buildings to the degree I can today, even though my development in this skill could still be considered minimal at the most.
Besides improving and experimenting with my navigational skills I also learned a lot about how job interviews operate. My intention was to ask for information about the work-study options in the Set Shop, however, I was redirected to the Costume Shop because I had some sewing experience. I was only asking for information, so at the moment I was not worried in the slightest. I had no clue I was about to be interviewed for the job on the spot.
Quick Tip: Always be prepared for a job interview. You never know when opportunity will come knocking.
After somehow landing the job on such short notice and being utterly unprepared, I was introduced to the shop and for lack of a better word, corporate culture. It was, for the most part, a relaxed environment where I spent most of my time organizing materials, cataloging, ironing, mending, washing, folding, and at one point modeling a costume or two.
Normally by Friday afternoon when I got into work, most of the heavy lifting was already done or others were in the process of working on large projects so I was there to take care of the little things. One of the best lessons I can take from my time in the Costume Shop is "we hand sew with our feet up." Doing this takes the pressure off of your back and neck and is way more comfortable than the alternative.
Unfortunately due to my unforgiving schedule Spring semester and the lack of available hours during times in which the Costume Shop was open aligning with my free time I had to find a new work study. Luckily one of my professors was looking for students with work study to fill the available position in the Tool Crib at the Machine Tool Lab.
Although working in the Machine Tool Lab was well within my comfort zone seeing as many of the classes for my major take place there, I missed being able to explore outside of my department as well as some of the friends I had made in the Costume Shop.
In the end, everything worked out. And I have yet another work-study opportunity on my hands working for Student Accessibility Services. One of my professors last semester told me "college is the only time you can have a different job every three months or so and not be questioned about it." Each new opportunity provides the means for building or strengthening skill sets.
Hopping from department to department for work-study increases your chances to build and diversify your skills and experiences in the workplace while allowing you to maintain your schoolwork at the same time.
