Foundation jobs offer students flexibility

Low wages, inflexible hours, poor working conditions, little or no chance of advancement, and working far from campus are all factors many CSUS students face when looking for employment.

But they have a valuable tool in finding work that accommodates a school schedule in the CSUS Foundation.

"Right now the Foundation has approximately 100 unfilled, part-time positions available to students who qualify," said Trina Knight, assistant director of human resources for the Foundation.

Some of the jobs are located on campus. However, the majority of the jobs are off-campus at various government agencies. The hours range from 16 to 25 per week and pay anywhere from minimum wage to $10.35 per hour.

On-campus positions offered include cashiers, food service workers, clerical positions, and computer sales assistants.

"The starting salaries for most of these positions is minimum wage, but can increase depending on the number of hours worked," said Knight.

Starting salaries for off-campus positions vary, depending on the skills required and the experience of the applicant. Many of the positions require minimum qualifications such as computer training, office skills, or a certain field of study.

In order to be eligible for any of these jobs, students must maintain a six-unit minimum, and graduate students must carry at least four units.

Finding jobs that accommodate students' schedules can be difficult.

Many employers require a minimum of 20 hours per week and oftentimes will not allow an employee to work at different times on different days.

But according to Knight, all of the Foundation positions, both on- and off-campus, are geared towards students. Employers are aware of the needs of students, especially during finals week, she said.

"The employers understand that school comes first," said Knight.

Courtney Smith, a student assistant for the Department of Fish and Game, said that her employers see school as the "number-one priority."

"My employer works around my school schedule and my internship with the Sacramento County Welfare Fraud Unit," said Smith.

Another student, Crystal Douglas, said she really likes the flexibility of her job, as well.

A copy graphics assistant, Douglas has worked in her on-campus job for almost two years. She said her hours are "very flexible. I can go to work, then go to class, and then come back to work on the same day."

Students who work for the Foundation learn many skills they can take with them to other positions.

Byron Hood, who has worked as a senior lab assistant for the last three semesters, said he has learned a lot through working as a lab assistant. He said he now knows how to use a number of computer applications without having to take the classes.

"Learning new things is the most important aspect of the job,"he said.

Aside from flexibility and convenience, another benefit of working for the Foundation is that students are allowed to study at work, said Claudia Pena, who works at the circulation desk at the library.

She said that she is allowed to study "whenever she has the time."

For those students who have little or no prior job experience, there are options.

Some of the positions are entry-level positions and do not require any prior experience, Knight said.

The positions open and close daily, so interested students should regularly check the job board, which is located on the third floor of the Hornet Bookstore building.

The Foundation has a web page that lists open positions at www.foundation.csus.edu.

"It's a great way to get a foot in the door, and a great way to get experience," said Knight.