Student Worker Job Description and Hiring Template

What a good one includes

• Clear classification of the role, specifying whether it is a Federal Work-Study (FWS) position or a general student payroll budget role.
• A realistic weekly hourly range that respects university caps, typically setting expectations for 10 to 20 hours per week during the academic term.
• A designated section outlining the required academic standing, such as minimum GPA thresholds and enrollment status criteria.
• A list of core duties organized by priority, distinguishing daily routine administrative tasks from project-based responsibilities.
• Explicit scheduling expectations that address how the department handles university holidays, exam weeks, and academic break periods.
• Defined transferable skills and professional learning outcomes that students will acquire, making the position highly attractive for their resumes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating the student worker position like a full-time professional role by demanding extensive prior corporate experience instead of assessing potential and soft skills.
• Failing to explicitly state whether the job requires physical on-campus attendance or offers remote/hybrid flexibility during the semester.
• Omitting a clear policy on schedule flexibility, which leads to sudden absenteeism when academic workloads or exam schedules peak.
• Writing vague duty descriptions that leave the student confused about their daily boundaries, resulting in underperformance or task avoidance.

Frequently asked questions