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Employment

Federal Work-Study is a need-based, self-help component of your annual 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. Students earning FWS wages should never replace regular full- or part-time employees.

Most campus-based jobs can pay you FWS wages. 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). There are some exceptions, however. For more details, refer to the Student Employment and NU Human Resource websites or contact the Work-Study Program if you have questions. 

Find a Job

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

To get started, 

  1. Confirm your eligibility in CAESAR.
  2. View the Student Employment Job Board for 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 required hiring documents to “officially” hire you as a Northwestern employee and establish your employment and payroll records. Hiring forms must be submitted and processed by Human Resources before engaging in any workplace training, shadowing, or your first day of work! We will be notified of your employment record when it is available. 

Employment Responsibilities

As a Northwestern student employee, you are 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, you may be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. 

Speak with your employer to understand how you may request and receive feedback on your performance. Employers may plan formal or informal performance evaluations throughout the year.

Additionally, 

  • Students should be honest with their employers about their FWS eligibility. 
  • Speak with your employer about what may happen if you exhaust your FWS earnings limit prematurely or become ineligible for continued payment with FWS wages for any reason. See the Payroll and Timekeeping Policies page for additional information. 

Multiple Positions

Students may be employed in multiple FWS-paying 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 exceed 20 hours per week among all paid positions. 
  • Hiring forms must be submitted for each position.
  • Inform your employer about 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, or as it relates to federal and university employment policies.

Continuing Employment in Subsequent Years

Be sure to submit all required financial aid renewal application and supplemental materials annually. Review your annual financial aid notice in CAESAR to confirm if your FWS-eligibility has been renewed. Because FWS is a federal need-based financial aid program, there may be rare instances when it cannot be renewed. You must meet other annual eligibility requirements to be paid FWS wages. Communicate your annual eligibility to your employer.  

Ending Employment

See Termination and Workplace Issues on the Student Employment website.