AUSTIN NELSEN
Staff Writer
With the typical college jobs of waiting tables and restocking clothing shelves located primarily in Santa Monica or Calabasas, entering into the workforce and trying to stay close to school is not an easy task. Since Malibu offers few job opportunities for students, many students turn to the university for employment.
Today, Seaver alone employees 950 student workers, nearly 32 percent of the Seaver population, most of which are work- study programs. Work study is offered by both the federal government and Pepperdine.
However, if a student doesn’t qualify for work study, finding an on-campus job might be a struggle as well.
“When I was looking for a job, I went on the Pepperdine Web site and looked at their on- campus job list, it was pretty helpful” said sophomore Allison Mericle. “But I didn’t have work study so my options were very limited with what they offered”
The problem seems to stem from the fact that federal work study programs pay for 75 percent of the student’s paycheck, leaving the other 25 percent to be paid by the department employing the student. Pepperdine work study pays for all of the student worker’s wages, according to Carla Anderson, the Student Employment manager.
However, if the student does not have work study, the department pays the full paycheck, and the money comes directly out of the department’s budget.
For this reason, departments tend to hire more work study students, Anderson said.
“Most department’s budgets will only allow them to hire a few students each year, and some smaller departments cannot afford to hire any students at all. However they are able to hire many more students if most of those students have been awarded some type of work study with their financial aid package,” Anderson said.
Some students have no problems whatsoever finding jobs on campus.
“Freshmen year I just went in and talked to the computer lab manager, had a quick interview and submitted a resume,” said Junior John Hamlin, who works in the computer lab. “Not being on work study did not affect my employment at all.”
Similarly, senior Robert Romero who has held three different on-campus jobs during his time at Pepperdine says he had very little trouble as well.
“The Call Center is always hiring, but it’s not the most exciting job, and the pizza delivery is usually looking for people as well,” Romero said. “My job in the reference library was a little more difficult to get I had to apply in the summer, I think when people have trouble finding jobs, its because they wait to long into the school year.”
So whether its students waiting too long, or the work study competition, Anderson said help is just around the corner.
“This situation is difficult to assess because students may or may not come see me when they are having problems finding on campus employment. I actually see a very small percentage of the whole student population in this situation.”
Although the on campus job market is competitive, early action and seeking help from the student employment office is recommended by Anderson.
Working in the call center might not be the most exciting job in the world, but it may be a bit more practical than a daily commute to Santa Monica.
02-09-2006