On-campus employment opportunities help student integrate work experience with their academic life

Gaining first-hand work experience during university helps students be better prepared for the workplace. At American University of Sharjah (AUS), students are able to look for on-campus jobs that fit around their course schedules during the On-Campus Student Employment Fair, which was held recently in the AUS Student Center.

Organized by the Office of Student Affairs, the fair connects students directly to AUS departments with part-time job openings, helps  them practice how to promote themselves to potential employers, and shows them the type of skills and experiences needed to increase their employability..

More than 10 AUS departments participated in the fair, including AUS Sustainability, Office of Strategic Communication and Marketing, Office of Enrollment Management, AUS Library, Information Communication Technology and Information Technology Department, Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, Office of Protocol and Security, International Exchange Office, Department of Student Engagement and Leadership, Department of Student Athletics and Recreation, Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, and Office of On-Campus Student Employment.

“We hold this fair every year to increase awareness about campus job opportunities for students. AUS departments meet with students and provide them with information and requirements for employment. They also accept resumes from students for any future job openings,” said Manal Al Blooshi, Student Employment Coordinator at AUS.

She added: “Our mission is to help students acquire new skills in an actual work environment to better prepare them for the workplace. By working on campus, they can integrate their work experience with their academic life.”

On-campus employers understand the importance of students putting their academic responsibilities first. Student employees can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours per month. During academic breaks and in the summer, working hours are extended up to a maximum of 40 hours per week or a total of 160 hours per month. To apply for these jobs, students use the online portal system. AUS currently has more than 280 student workers.

Reza Dawoodi, an electrical engineering graduate student, said the on-campus employment fair provided great insights into student work opportunities. “Student employment is a wonderful way to gain experience and to put education into practice. When I was an undergraduate student at AUS, I was a student worker with the IT Department and I loved it. I learned a lot about successful troubleshooting, customer service and the work it does at the university-level,” said Dawoodi.

Architecture major Rayam Almehmedi believes that working on campus is an opportunity to get integrated into the university community, participate in university events, expand professional networks and have a rich university experience.

“I am in my final year of university, and I am looking at different student work opportunities. Having finished my internship, I want to continue to be part of a professional work setting as I prepare for graduation and the real world. I believe it is important for all students to look into campus work opportunities. Discipline and time management are the most important skills you learn as you juggle between work and studies,” she said.

For more information about what AUS has to offer, visit www.aus.edu.