In some cases, the student worker performs research. A student who works in the financial aid office may have to research various grants and scholarship opportunities on the Internet and post them on the office's bulletin board. He may also enter students' application data into the computer for reference at a later date. Or if a student worker is employed by the English department, he may read the manuscripts for the department's literary journal and email writers with some feedback or questions about the manuscript.
For some student workers who are in graduate school, they may have to teach classes under the supervision of a professor. The purpose is to help graduate students learn the skills they need to teach on the collegiate level. Student teachers also sometimes grade papers, assist professors with lesson plans, give encouragement to students and occasionally administer exams and give weekly assignments.
For other student workers, they perform most of their time in the office. Some of their administrative duties include greeting and answering clients' questions, preparing business letters, sending and receiving emails, filing students' records and personal information, establishing new employee files and running light errands around campus. In some cases, the student workers assist with the organizing of staff meetings.
Most student workers receive their training from their supervisors on the job and the salary varies by position and school. The average salary was $30,000, as of May 2010, according to PayScale.com.
One benefit of being a student worker is that she gets the opportunity to get real-life work experience while earning money for some of their educational expenses. Another benefit is that student workers are able to utilize their talents and interests to develop careers that will last for years to come. A final benefit is that student workers are able to establish new friendships with fellow students.