Consider student employment as part of workforce preparation and job readiness
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EmailWhen talking to young people about what they plan to do in the future or how they will fund their education, student employment can be a piece of the puzzle. This article includes the perspective of a 4-H alumna who is a MSU student employee.
When talking to young people about what they plan to do in the future or how they will fund their education, student employment can be a piece of the puzzle. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators: Student Affairs Administrators in High Education indicate that “rising tuition costs, family obligations, resume-building, and handling the curveballs life can throw are just a few reasons why working while in school is a must for many students. An average of 70% to 80% of full- or part-time students are employed either on- or off-campus.”
Michigan State University (MSU) student employment offers a wide variety of opportunities and benefits to MSU students. Employment while attending school provides ways to offset educational expenses, opportunities to learn new skills, and practical knowledge to add to the classroom experience. According to MSU Human Resources, MSU hires approximately 18,000 students per year.
Emily Sustarich is a current MSU student majoring in the pre-veterinary track of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Animal Science Department and is a student employee for Michigan State University Extension working with animal science and workforce readiness youth staff members. She spent six years in the Ogemaw County 4-H Program, involved in raising goats, dairy cattle, horses and sewing. She plans to become a 4-H volunteer leader and Emily hopes to go to veterinary medicine college after she completes her undergraduate degree to become a veterinarian.
Emily has gained insight into why having a job as a full-time student is important and how it has helped her. According to Emily, a main reason why students get jobs is that it helps pay for college expenses, such as tuition and housing. She is also able to do fun things since she has a job and can pay for things on her own.
Working in an office with MSU Extension staff has taught Emily countless things, such as making connections with people in the Animal Science Department and veterinarians, which allows for more opportunities. Emily appreciates how flexible her schedule is and the opportunity to study while working, if needed. Emily has learned many things about Extension that she did not know before; there are countless career opportunities as well as a number of resources Extension provides to youth to help set them up for success. Another thing Emily mentioned was that being a student employee allows her to be employed until she graduates, easing the stress of knowing she will have this job for a couple of years and will not have to find another one.
Emily recently reflected on how many life skills she has learned by being employed with and supporting 4-H Youth Development. She has learned how to use Canva to design things, as well as using interactive learning tools such as GooseChase and how to review news articles. These skills are great for Emily’s future career, along with building her resume and helping with her classes throughout college. Emily also mentioned that during her first semester as a student employee, she obtained the highest grade point average that she has had while in college. She feels having a job makes her prioritize her time better and focus on getting things done when she has free time. Emily shared how getting a job as a student employee was the best thing she could have done while going to college. Emily is making extra money, important connections and workplace skills for her future.
Student employment if beneficial to the college experience. MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. For more information about career exploration, workforce development and readiness, youth financial education or youth entrepreneurship, email us at 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.
