Post a Job & Candidate Selection
Under FWS program and employment regulations, individuals should generally be paid for their work unless the employer typically does not pay for those job duties (e.g., for volunteer or unpaid roles). If the work normally requires compensation, the individual should be paid. For more details, refer to the Student Employment and NU Human Resource websites. Students earning FWS wages should never replace regular full- or part-time employees.
Work performed for Northwestern faculty must be related to their work as a Northwestern University professor, not personal projects.
Written Job Description
Written job descriptions serve as a documented reference point for all parties. Job descriptions help students determine whether they qualify for a job and whether the job is related to their academic or professional objectives. Job descriptions may also prevent conflicts and the need for formal adjudication.
If you plan to employ an FWS-eligible student in your position, you must have the following components on file:
- Official Job Title
- You may also indicate a position name that describes the job's responsibilities (e.g., "Intern," "Marketing Specialist," "Attendant," "Social Media Manager," etc.).
- Department/area name and location/address
- Name of supervisor/job title of supervisor
- Regular supervision must be provided by a professional staff or faculty member. Graduate supervisors are prohibited. All Ph.D. students wishing to employ another student as a research assistant (RA), should contact the Dean of Student Office. Students are NOT permitted to hire another student on their own.
- Wage rate
- Length of employment (i.e. start and end dates)
- A job description that includes the purpose or role within the department or organization.
- Include any skills or attributes that correlate with success in the role, physical requirements (e.g. ability to stand for long hours, lift heavy items), and any other applicable job details (e.g. office hours, location, etc.).
- Job duties and responsibilities associated with the position
- General qualifications for the position
- Evaluation procedures and schedules
Post a Job
Paid student employment opportunities should be posted for Equal Employment Opportunity purposes.
On-Campus FWS Employers
- You may submit your FWS-paid job opportunity using the Student Employment Job Posting Form. Your job will be posted to Northwestern's Student Employment Job Board.
- Additional information for employers is available on the Student Employment website.
Off-Campus Community FWS Employers
Please contact our office for assistance with submitting your job posting to the student job board. Once you have selected a candidate, please also contact our office so that we may begin the hiring procedures to establish the student's official employment and payroll records.
Candidate Selection
Many departments require proof of eligibility as part of job application or interview requirements. Please confirm with the student that they are eligible for Federal Work-Study during the current academic year. Student FWS-eligibility may change from one academic year to the next. However, that is rare.
Additional information regarding candidate selection is also available on the Student Employment Website.