Seeking Student Employment?
Your first stop is Handshake! Connect to open positions and many types of opportunities, both on- and off-campus.
Student Employment Programs
Provides funds for part-time employment to help eligible students finance the costs of postsecondary education. All available FWS positions are posted in Handshake
FWS funds are not automatically applied to your student account. Funds must be earned through employment in an eligible FWS position within the university.
A current FWS Award offer is required to apply for all FWS positions. An award does not guarantee a position on campus, but instead opens an additional pool of positions available to you on campus.
Career Development Services partners with all campus departments for FWS allocations. Each position is posted in Handshake and applicants are recruited and hired directly by the worksite. To find available positions, please log into Handshake and search for “FWS” positions.
America Reads and America Counts are federally sponsored programs that provide tutors in the community, including local elementary schools. Become a role model and develop the future by helping school children with reading/literacy and math skills. To find available positions, please log into Handshake and search for “FWS” positions.
Community Service positions allow you to work in the local community at selected non-profit organizations or government agencies while earning your work study award. To find available positions, please log into Handshake and search for “FWS” positions.
Utilize your FWS award in an on-campus internship experience. Coming Fall 2024! Available positions will be posted in Handshake.
The Learn and Earn Advantage Program is an on-campus work program that allows eligible freshman undergraduate students the opportunity to earn money and gain valuable job-related skills during the Fall and Spring semesters through part-time jobs on campus, a workplace skills course, and leadership and career development workshops. Students that are awarded LEAP have the option of applying for and working a LEAP job in order to earn the LEAP money indicated in their financial aid package. Please note that receipt of award DOES NOT guarantee a LEAP job.
LEAP jobs average 10-15 hours per week in positions ALL over campus (except working directly with food service or university maintenance). To find available positions, log onto the Handshake portal and search for "LEAP Positions." Contact us to learn more.
Requirements for the LEAP program:
- Accept LEAP Award
- Accept LEAP Job
- Enroll in or successfully complete the UNIV 130 Workplace Skills course in the first semester of the LEAP program
- Remain in good academic standing and receive positive job evaluations from their immediate LEAP supervisors each semester
LEAP II is an continuation of LEAP into the sophomore year for a limited number of successful LEAP participants.
LEAP II offers second year undergraduate students (true sophomore) an opportunity to receive pre-internship work experience. Jobs are related to your field of interest with hands on guidance from on campus supervisors. You must have successfully completed the LEAP Program for freshmen and maintain a GPA higher than 2.3.
This work-study program is a VA education benefit offered to military students working towards a college degree, vocational certificate, or from ¾ to full time. In this assistance program, financial aid is traded in return for volunteering personal time. Most work-study assignments include completing and processing paperwork, assisting with recruitment services, and working at medical facilities, among other common VA duties. Additional information can be found at va.gov.
Earn while you learn with a VA Work-Study allowance. Contact Vets Employ to apply for these educational benefits.
Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) connects the military community—service members, military spouses, and veterans—with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce.
Internships & Cooperative Education (Co-Ops)
The Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office serves as the central unit for supporting work-based learning initiatives at Old Dominion University. They provide advising and support to students, collaborate with employers, and work with academic departments to expand work-based learning curricula. For more information, please contact the Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office at 757-683-5627, internship@odu.edu, odu.edu/internship, or visit the office at 1000 Webb Center, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Student Employment Frequently Asked Questions
Jobs in the dining halls or any other eating establishments on campus would fall under Aramark. For positions with Aramark and for positions at the Chartway Arena, please visit ODU's affiliated employment webpage.
Check your award notification from Financial Aid or LEO Online. Eligible students who filed a FAFSA form for financial aid are given FWS amount to accept or decline from the Old Dominion University Office of Financial Aid.
FWS is awarded by Financial Aid based on financial need as determined through your completed FAFSA. Eligibility is determined by number of factors. If you are awarded FWS you will see the award in your Financial Aid Package. Check your financial aid package in LEO Online. FWS will be listed with any other grants or loans issued by Financial Aid.
All Federal Work Study positions are posted in Handshake. There are many student employment programs to earn your award. If you need help in creating and saving your job search, visit our Career Commons for assistance from a Career Coach. As with all positions in Handshake, a resume is required for application. We have Career Coaches to assist you, but to get started; here are some Resume Samples to use as a guide!
No, you do not need to complete a FAFSA to work on campus. However, there are hundreds of campus work opportunities available for students who have completed their FAFSA. Filling out your FAFSA may provide you with additional opportunities for Federal aid; including loans, grants, and Federal Work Study Awards. Federal Work Study jobs require an award to apply, but you are eligible to apply to campus student hourly positions without an award or FAFSA application.
All of our positions are posted online in Handshake. All degree-seeking students have an account and can access Handshake using the Monarch Key login with their MiDAS ID and Password. In Handshake, just upload your resume and this will allow you to apply to jobs! If you do not have a resume, we have tips and samples to get you started and Career Coaches available to assist you.
Although a FAFSA is not required, we encourage you to fill one out through Financial Aid; you may be eligible for federal aid which will widen your net of on-campus work opportunities by making you eligible for federal work study jobs.
Different positions have different processes to apply for the positions. Details about applying will be mentioned on the job ad. One way to prepare yourself for the process would be to develop a basic general resume. We have Career Coaches to assist you, but to get started; here are some Resume Samples to use as a guide!
Once in the LEO Online Financial Aid review screen, choose accept (or decline) for the FWS offer. Once accepted, FWS awards must be earned and eligibility must be maintained; FWS awards are not automatically applied to your student account.
Once you have accepted a FWS award you can search for a position that will allow you to earn your award:
- Log into Handshake
- In the "Position Type" Drop down menu, select "Federal Work Study (FWS)"
- Click Search
- Upload your resume
All available positions are posted and new positions are added regularly. If you do not find a suitable position, please save a job Search Agent to receive an automated job update:
- Select the "Advanced Search" tab to save, name, and submit your search
- Schedule your search from the "Search Agent's" tab
Application to Work Study Jobs is a similar process to application to any other position. Make sure that your resume speaks to your skills. If you need any assistance, please visit the Career Commons to discuss your resume.
A FWS award does not guarantee employment. Like any other job, FWS has a competitive hiring process and you will need to complete a FWS job search in Handshake. There are a limited amount of FWS opportunities each semester, so apply early.
Contact ODU student employment at FWS@odu.edu to learn more about what information you need and how to submit your forms.
Federal Work Study (FWS) and (Learn and Earn Advantage Program (LEAP) are similar in that you need to submit your FAFSA to qualify for these funds, but different in regards to the structure. FWS positions are open to any qualified student in good standing with the University.
LEAP is a freshman employment program unique to ODU that allows students to mix Learning with Earning. ONLY freshman with a LEAP award are able to apply for open LEAP jobs. Students in this program are hired in different departments around campus and are able to earn a paycheck while also taking a weekly class that will teach about professionalism and other workforce readiness skills. LEAP seeks to prepare students for the internships and careers after college. Learning about the skills employers value while developing and applying them to their work site is the basis of the program. The LEAP program is only for freshmen. There is a LEAP2 program that allows some of the successful LEAP1 students to continue into their sophomore year.
The LEAP 2 Program allows sophomore students to work on campus in a role that will help to develop career-relevant skills while preparing students for internships or other work options after their sophomore year. Only sophomore students successfully completing the LEAP program are eligible for LEAP 2.
Check your award notification from Financial Aid. Eligible 1st year undergraduate students who filed a FAFSA form for financial aid would have been given an LEAP amount to accept or decline from the Old Dominion University Office of Financial Aid.
LEAP is awarded by Financial Aid based on financial need as determined through your completed FAFSA. Eligibility is determined by number of factors. If you are awarded LEAP you will see the award in your Financial Aid Package. Check your financial aid package in LEO. LEAP will be listed with any other grants or loans issued by Financial Aid.
Once in the LEO Online Financial Aid review screen, choose accept (or decline) the LEAP offer. Once accepted, LEAP awards must be earned and eligibility must be maintained; LEAP awards are not automatically applied to your student account.
After you have accepted your LEAP award you would apply through the Handshake portal. Handshake is your network for jobs, internships, and events targeted just for ODU students and alumni.
To apply:
- Log into Handshake
- Select "my jobs" on the left side of the screen
- Select Advanced Search
- Next to Job Type- click "Learn & Earn Advantage Program (LEAP) - if you need any help, don't hesitate to email LEAP@odu.edu for assistance!
- Apply using a resume. If you need help in creating one the Career Development Services office can help!!
A LEAP award does not guarantee employment. Like any other job, LEAP is a competitive hiring process and applicants may be asked to interview with potential on-campus employers. Specific jobs are reserved only for LEAP students and students that apply early often get hired. There are a limited amount of LEAP opportunities each semester, so apply early.