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Employment

Federal Work-Study is a need-based, self-help component of your financial aid notice. Students are responsible for finding a job, are paid an hourly wage for hours worked in qualifying positions, and receive a biweekly paycheck. 

Job posting and hiring activity normally peaks between mid-August to mid-October. There is typically another small peak in January.

Most campus-based jobs can pay you FWS wages. There are some exceptions, however. Contact the Work-Study Program if you have questions. 

Find a Job

  1. Confirm your eligibility in CAESAR.
  2. View the Student Employment Job Board to view open positions.
  3. Provide all requested materials and follow the contact instructions indicated in the job posting.
  4. If you are selected as a job candidate, cooperate with the hiring manager and be honest about your experience, interest, and availability.  

Additional information and resources for Finding a Job On-Campus are outlined on the Student Employment website.

Hiring Procedures

Once offered a job, you and your employer must submit hiring documents to “officially” hire you as a Northwestern employee and establish your employment and payroll records. Hiring forms must be submitted and processed before engaging in any workplace training, shadowing, or your first day of work!

Employment Responsibilities

Even though FWS is a federal financial aid program you are also a Northwestern student employee and, therefore, responsible for abiding by Northwestern Federal Work-Study, Financial Aid, Human Resources, and department/unit policies and procedures. General student employment Work Responsibilities are outlined on the Northwestern Student Employment website. If you will oversee sensitive information, your supervisor may ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Additionally, 

  • Inform your supervisor regarding your quarterly class schedule and availability as it may affect your work schedule. 
  • If you need to miss a shift or cut back on hours, talk to your supervisor to establish a new schedule or receive approved time off. Make sure to balance your academic load. Your academics should take priority!
  • Communicate your schedule for finals week or ask for excused time off in advance. 
  • Plan your schedule to avoid reaching your FWS earnings limit prematurely.* (Most students work 6-10 hours per week. It's important not to exceed 20 hours worked per week related to certain federal and university employment policies. See the Payroll and Timekeeping Policies page for additional information.) 
    • *Sometimes FWS earnings limits may be increased. See the Earnings Limit Appeals section for additional information.

Speak with your supervisor for more information and to understand how you may request and receive feedback on your performance. Supervisors may plan formal or informal performance evaluations throughout the year.

Multiple Positions

Students may be employed in multiple jobs. Acceptable reasons include if the student believes they cannot reach their FWS earnings limit through their present job alone and/or if the second position is more relevant to their academic and career interests.

Remember,

  • Do not plan to exceed 20 hours per week among all student employment jobs. 
  • Hiring forms must be submitted for each position.
  • Inform your supervisors regarding your multiple jobs, even if they are not paying you FWS wages, as it may impact your schedule, their ability to pay you if you reach your FWS earnings limit mid-year, and as it relates to federal and university employment policies. 

Ending Employment

See Termination and Workplace Issues on the Student Employment website.