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Student employment is an important practice for a college student. Whether a student is dedicating time to an internship, working part-time or employed seasonally, some form of work experience is essential to building all sorts of skills used throughout your adult life. Employment at a younger age teaches time management, work ethic, job experience, dedication, social skills and proper work space behavior. Every student employee interviewed throughout this blog enjoys every minute of their job. Students are becoming independent, stable and learning to appreciate the value of a hard earned dollar. College is all about preparation. Preparation for real world and the obstacles we will all face. Tied together with a proper college education, a person with strong work ethic and willingness to succeed will go far in a career. The Colorado State University students interviewed in this blog are all going places, from reporting from a sporting event to teaching biology in a middle school classroom and even to performing on stage in front of thousands of fans. Thank you for reading!

"Black Prez"

After interviewing numerous CSU students about their student employment and why it is important to have job, I found myself almost on autopilot. I listened, appreciated and stayed interested in everyone’s job description, work ethic and their views on student employment, but all the answers started to sound repetitive. Of course it is going to be common that college students are employed on campus and of course they are going to love it! Of course students are looking into their future when they are working, they are building work experience, work ethic and useful skills outside of the classroom. When I began this blog, I didn’t expect so many commonalities between students. Then I ran into Josh Madry.  

Josh is a musician. Some may know him as “Black Prez”. Josh is a well-known rap artist around the Fort Collins community. Already earning his degree in social work, Josh is now studying to complete his masters in High School Counseling. Being a musician keeps Josh busy while giving him a steady income. He makes money through song and album purchases, “Black Prez” clothing and paid performances. “The best part about my job is getting to do what I love,’ says Josh.

Many people would love the opportunity to be a successful musician and Josh is an inspiration. Although he is his building his popularity as “Black Prez”, he is also earning a great education to mentor and change the life of children.

View the latest music video from "Black Prez" -  Check out his blog too!

Making Ends Meet

Students may find employment as a form of independence. Moving away from your family and into the dorms is a common first step of personal independence. It isn’t until rent is due and the bills need to be paid that a student knows they can financially support themselves without their parents help. Like me, some students must pay for all utilities of life.  Tuition, rent, bills, and leisure activities can add up to be an expensive lifestyle. Student employment may be a choice for some, but is required for others.

Health and Exercise Science major, Ryan Hedrick prefers to work in order to spend his own money. “I want to be on my own two feet and not have to depend on others for my success,” says Ryan. It is a rewarding experience to spend your own hard earned money on things you enjoy in life. 

Any student looking for extra cash or desperately need a job, Colorado State University offers help through the StudentEmployment Services website and also through the student portal RamWeb.  

Cams Lobby Shop - James Robinson

The Lory Student Center is a place full of student resources. The student center is also a great place to find an on-campus job. Many students from previous blog posts in fact work in the Lory Student Center. Some places inside the student center have yet to be discussed. The CSU Bookstore occupies two levels on the student center, equipped with text books, school supplies and Ram apparel. There is a full food court for the students and faculty convenience, consisting of Taco Bell, Panda Express, Bagel Place, Carls Jr., Subway and a few others that students may work with. On the lower level of the student center, a student can find the only on-campus bar, the Ram Skeller, where students can train to become bartenders and servers. Also located on the lower level near the main entrance is the campus convenience store, Cams Lobby Shop.

Social Work major, James Robinson is a cashier at Cams Lobby Shop. The lobby shop is similar to a gas station without the pumps. They offer quick snacks and drinks for students on the go. “The best part about my job are the people I work with and the fact that the managers work with my schedule as a student,” says James. On-campus jobs are more likely to be flexible with a student schedule, plus it is beneficial to work on-campus so it is easy to get to and from work and class.

Visit the Lory Student Center website or Cams Lobby Shop website for more information. 

Tim Brogdon

Tim Brogdon, political science major, is the Director of Student Services for ASCSU. Tim shares his passion for CSU through ASCSU by participating in high level decisions and program events. Associated Students of Colorado State University is known as “the student voice” on campus, they assist and support student programs throughout campus such as RamRide, the Collegiate Readership Program as well as many others.

However, while interviewing Tim he revealed his passion for his second job, a Bartender at the popular, hot-spot Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. “The best part about working at Fuzzy’s is getting off campus and interacting with Fort Collins outside of CSU,” says Tim. Fuzzy’s is a new Mexican style restaurant located nearly a mile west of campus. With their tasty margaritas and oversized burritos, Fuzzy’s has quickly become “the” place to be. 

Tim is experiencing the best of both worlds. He holds two very fun, interactive job positions. At ASCSU, he gets to be involved and make a difference for the Ram community and at Fuzzy’s he gets to enjoy the essence of college life as a bartender at a popular bar near campus.

Visit the ASCSU website for more information and check out the Fuzzy’s website for daily deals! 

Plasma Donations $$$

Not every college student has a part-time job on the side of school work. Some students simply do not have time for school, work and a social life. Some students may be involved in clubs, athletics or campus organizations. Other students are financially and personally stable enough to focus all their time on earning their degree. But the job market in Fort Collins can make for a troubling time for a student seeking employment. When employment cannot be found, some students are forced to think outside the box.

Reilly Kelsen, a Construction Management major, donates his plasma to the CSL PlasmaCenter for cash twice a week. “I donate plasma because right now I currently don’t have a job and that is really my only source of income without watching my bank account drop drastically,” says Reilly, “Even if I do get a job soon, I still plan on donating plasma because it’s an easy way to get a little extra cash for the week without touching my bank account.”

Plasma donors can earn up to $300 a month for their contributions, this may be more than some students make with a part-time job. There are pros and cons when it comes to plasma donations though. This process works great for students like Reilly who cannot find a job at this time, but on the other hand some students may not be comfortable with the process.

To learn more about donating plasma, contact the CSL Plasma Center in Fort Collins, Colo.

Molly Govern

Molly Govern will be graduating this December and earning her Biomedical Sciences Degree from Colorado State University. Molly took a different approach this fall semester when it came to student employment. CSU offers many online courses through OnlinePlus. With this in mind, Molly left Fort Collins and moved to Parker, Colo. in hopes of beginning her career early only a semester before graduation.

Molly landed a job as the Registrar at Aurora Hills Middle School. “My degree was virtually complete by the beginning of this fall semester and so I took the chance by completing online courses and it worked out great,” says Molly, “I’m gaining work experience in a school prior to getting my teaching license. I feel like I’m on top of my game!”

If online courses interest you, check out the Colorado State University OnlinePlus program. 

Danielle Kelsen

Working on campus can be an enjoyable experience. There are more commonalities between employees on campus, being that co-workers are not only friends they are also students. There are many organizations across campus that consist mostly of student employees, for example student media. In an earlier blog, Reno Boyd expressed his excitement working at CTV. Now, Danielle Kelsen an Advertising Representative with the Rocky Mountain Collegian, shares her appreciation for student media at Colorado State University.

“The best part about my job is getting to see how student media runs as a whole. We are mostly made up of student employees or interns, so it is really cool to see how everyone pitches in to make student media operate smoothly,” says Danielle.

The benefits of working on campus are endless. Student responsibilities are taken seriously and friendships are made with fellow students who share the same passion and interests. Danielle especially enjoys her job because she is earning a paycheck by simply working closely with friends and the community.

Check out The Rocky Mountain Collegian and Student Media for more information. 

Motivation: Work and Friends

Building and maintaining friendships is a universal trait we are all taught as children. As students we develop free and easy friendships with our fellow classmates. We share secrets, spend time together on the weekends and make memories. A benefit to student employment is identifying the difference between a close friend and a colleague.  Throughout life we will all build different relationships with a variety of people, learning proper edict in certain environments at a young age is crucial to success.

Restaurant Management student, Emily Hawkins, explains, “The best part about my job as a server is the people I work with. We all get along so well and they make it fun to show up every day.” Strong colleagues that should be valued are those that push you and motivate you to succeed every day. Toxic work environments filled with gossip, rumors, negativity and poor attitudes can affect you as a person. By building healthy relationships with co-workers we can expect success not only individually, but for the company as a whole.

Emily believes it is important to have a job as a student because we are always learning. Schooling teaches us book smarts, while work can teach us common sense we can apply to our everyday life. By staying motivated not only in school, but also in the work place a student will develop strong work ethic and become more of an encouraging person to be around.  

Learn more about student employment at The Student Employment Services Website. 

Dominic Lajoie

Young people in college are at the perfect time in their life when they can gain experience, learn, change and grow without troubling consequences. Sometimes students will have multiple jobs as they complete their degree. Some people like rapid change, others sought new opportunities and sometimes a job just isn’t the right fit. By experimenting and learning what type of environment you work best in now, you are more likely to be successful when choosing a career.

Fashion Design major, Dominic Lajoie, is certain he wants to work in a highly interactive environment helping people. Throughout his college career he has been employed at American Eagle Outfitters as a Sales Associate, the University of Performing Arts as a Ticket Sales Member and currently as a Customer Service Representative for SLiCE in the Lory Student Center here at CSU. “The best part about all my jobs is the service aspect. When people hear customer service they’re usually a little underwhelmed at what I do, but they don’t know that I work with students, faculty, professors, community members and pretty much anyone else who wants to make or difference or get involved,” Dominic says, “I love meeting the faces of the people behind the projects that impact Fort Collins and the CSU community.”  

Student employment is a great tool to use when finding your true calling. Although some may disagree with Dominic, he enjoys working because it takes his mind off of the stress of school. His job gives him the feeling of fulfillment and he hopes to continue this trend into his career.

Check out SLiCE to learn more how Dominic and others reach out to the community. 

Reno Boyd

Associate Sports and News Producer and Sports Anchor for CTV, Reno Boyd, loves everything about his job. While some students may only view their student employment position as temporary, other students use this time in their life to determine if they are truly passionate about building a career in a certain field.

Reno is taking advantage of his opportunity at CTV and building his resume. “The best part about my job is being able to gain experience in productions, being it’s the field I want to pursue after graduation,” Reno said.

Reno believes it is important to have a job as a student because it teaches time management skills and how to stay productive. In addition, working at CTV has taught Reno how to build and maintain working relationships in a type of position he hopes to have a career in one day.

Visit CTV to learn more about Colorado State University’s campus television. 

Lizzy Stanford

Finding employment as a student can be a fun learning experience. The employment we chose as students does not have to reflect our future career goals. At this time in our lives, a job is simply getting us from point A to point B. When searching for student employment, one should consider interests, hobbies and favorite past times. By working in an environment that you enjoy this can eliminate stress from school, while building strong work ethic.

Lizzy Stanford, a CSU student studying Human Development, loves interacting and watching over children. For the past three years, Lizzy has been a nanny to twins, Alex and Hannah. Laughing, playing, and helping children learn is an awarding experience for Lizzy. “My favorite part is spending time with just two children. I used to work at a daycare center where there were dozens of children to look after and I never felt like I could spend personal time with all the kids,” says Lizzy, “Working with children makes me happy and calms me down, it is a great student job.” 

CSU Alumni Association

Once a CSU student graduates and dives into their career, they have now officially become a Colorado State University Alumni. Former students can stay connected to the University through the Alumni Association. If a person chooses to they can become a member to the association. With membership, former students can strengthen programs, services, and resources by paying an annual fee and making any further donations.

Similar to RamWeb for current students, the Alumni Association has many tools, networks and links for CSU alumni to utilize throughout all aspects of their career. One of the greatest resources through the Alumni Association is the direct link to Career Resources. This page offers guidelines to developing new skills, help when considering a new job and even assistance finding a new career.  Another great resource is the Alumni Business Connection. This tool is a directory of businesses owned, operated, managed or employed by Alumni Association members. This is a great way to network and build connections.

A great way to stay connected after graduation is through the Alumni Association, and be sure to check out their page on LinkedIn. 

Throughout the previous blogs it is evident that most students believe holding employment while earning a degree teaches responsibility and strong work ethic. However, it is in our best interest to find a career that will allow us to share these skills. The Career Center at Colorado State University is by far the most reliable resource for all students and alumni seeking careers after graduation. The Mission Statement declares, "The Colorado State University Career Center educates and empowers students and alumni to manage their careers, provided employers connections to CSU, and develops community partnership to support the economic vitality of the University and State.”

CSU senior, Becca Carlson is a Student Assistant at the Career Center. She believes having a job during college demonstrates to a future employer a person who is ready to work hard. A person who can hold good grades and a steady job shows promise. At the Career Center, her job is loaded with benefits. Not only does she have a job as a student, but she works on campus and the greatest part about it all is she has a deeper understanding and inside connections to finding the career of her life. Becca says, “I can walk to work as if I am walking to class and my hours are scheduled around my classes. I hardly ever have conflicts with my work schedule. The Career Center makes sure we know that we are students first, employees second. If work and school ever conflict, they are very accommodating. Work is much less stressful.”

The Career Center is a very personalized and prepares students on an individualistic level. Students can search not only for careers, but also internships. To begin, students are able to upload their resume for potential employers to view. Students are also able to make appointments and complete assessments to advance their skills in interviewing, job search strategies, as well as resume, cover letter and personal statement development.

Becca shares an important tip when it comes to searching for future careers, “Start looking for internships, start building your resume or establishing a career path before senior year.” By being prepared, the real world will not come as such a shock. The CSU Career Center is a perfect place to begin preparation for your career. Stop in today and find your fit.

Big Girl Job!

I got a new job! Not only is it a new job, but it is a big girl job that I will transition into after graduation. I’m the new Marketing Coordinator at Classic Cabinets and Design. I've working with this company since the beginning of October. It is a locally owned company in Louisville, Colo. They specialize in home remodeling, designing anything from kitchens to bathrooms and even completing an unfinished basement. The company is very small with only 3 permanent employees and only a hand full of contractors.

Their marketing strategies are very “old school” so I’m adding a little zest with Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages, as well as a bi-weekly newsletter and a new company website. I’ve also created three advertising campaigns that will be launched with Google in the new year. I’m very excited because this is the exact reason I picked my degree – to find a job that lets me put my education to use and allows me to continue to learn everyday about something I’m passionate about.

Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages.

The company website will be updated by January, but please still take a look if you are interested 

Classic Cabinets and Design. 

Financial Aid - Making Ends Meet

Erica Doerr is completing her first year as a Paralegal Assistant at Hoggatt Law Firm in Fort Collins, Colo. Erica attended Mesa State College during the 2008-2009 school year, but due to high tuition costs and living expenses she was forced to put her education on hold while she saved enough to earn her degree. In the next year she moved to Fort Collins to be closer to home and her friends. Living in a college town, Erica has enjoyed the college lifestyle without the homework blues. “I’ve loved living with my friends. We all have stresses in our lives, they mostly worry about grades or exams while sometimes I stress about work,” Erica said, “It may seem like I’m behind, but in fact I’m learning good work ethic and dedication, things that matter in both the work place and in school.”

The expense of a college education can create many restrictions and hardships for students and their families. However, there is a solution. For students paying for college on their own, like Erica, or families seeking assistance in payments, most secondary institutions offer financial aid.

Colorado State University offers four different types of financial aid; grants, scholarships, loans and work study positions. Both grants and scholarships are forms of financial aid that do not need to be paid back. Work study positions can be found through the CSU Student Employment Services. “Work study positions provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience as well as a practical means to contribute to the costs of their education.” (http://ses.colostate.edu/) However, loans are a form of financial aid that does need to be returned and in order to receive a loan from an institution the student must be eligible and request the funds by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid options give hope to people concerned about funding their way to a degree.

“I’m excited to return to school next fall, I know I will work hard and appreciate every ounce of my education because I’ve spent three long years saving,” Erica said. Working while earning your degree teaches time management and responsibility, but some may argue working to earn your degree is a much bigger feat. “The pride I will feel when I successfully earn my degree on my own dime will be incredible.”

For more information about CSU Financial Aid refer to http://sfs.colostate.edu/ and for CSU Student Employment Services refer to http://ses.colostate.edu/