This semester, students are more likely to serve you coffee at Skillman cafe, cater for your event and handle your mail than before.
More students are working in these positions, although some job managers have not expanded recruitment more than usual. Bon Appetit Dining Services, for example has been employing more students to help cater for events.
When asked what caused dining services to employ more students, General Manager Sarah Fried’s answer was simple: student interest.
“Dining services will extend positions to any students that are interested in working in dining, and I’m not sure what or why the sudden increase in interest,” Fried said.
Allyssa Conner ‘18 found her interest after seeing a friend and club rugby teammate working for catering, and the application process that followed was straightforward.
“I saw her working in Upper [dining hall] and I asked her how I could get a job,” Conner said. “She said she would ask her boss if I could meet with her and about a week later, I met with her and expressed my interest in the job. She took my information and scheduled an interview for the next week.”
Conner said that she found that dining services was able to accommodate her application easily, because they needed more employees.
“The ‘interview’ actually turned out to be reviewing the employee manual and getting a uniform because I already had the job,” Conner said. “This happens with most Lafayette students who work for Bon Appetit because they need staff.”
Student dining service employees are paid at $10 an hour, which is higher than many other campus jobs.
Some students have pursued work in search of specific work-study positions, but have found them in new places. Lauren-Nicole Laurenceau ‘18 also recently became a Bon Appetit employee through a position as a barista in Skillman Café.
She was able to apply through career services’ recently introduced career help website, CareerSpot. After a few interviews, she was able to work out pretty flexible working hours and now works twice as much as last year at six hours a week. Laurenceau recently got a $0.50 per hour raise and reports currently making around $8 an hour.
Other students simply find their jobs by chance, such as Alexander Homsi’s ’19 job as a post office clerk. After sending emails to a variety of student employers, the post office opening was the only position that responded.
This worked out perfectly for Homsi, who had found applying as an international student to campus jobs difficult due to visa limitations.
“There were other jobs available but some jobs are not available for international students because of visa problems,” Homsi, who is Syrian, said.
He works two hours a week and as for his enjoyment in the job, Homsi said, “It’s been good. It is work but I enjoy it.”
Post Office Supervisor Robert Walsh and Employment Director of Human Resources Lisa Youngkin Rex did not respond in time for deadline to comment on hiring practices.