Who are student workers?
Student workers are generally in school years 10 to 12, or at TAFE. At different ages, their needs vary significantly.
However, no student worker is the same as the next young worker. For that reason, it is important to get to know them as people with busy lives outside the workplace.
Student workers today are all part of Generation Y - a generational cohort born between 1978 and 2000. Generation Y people tend to work enthusiastically in teams, love to be assigned a challenge, want to use technology, need appreciation for their work, like to keep busy and like diversity in the tasks they perform.
However, no student worker is the same as the next young worker. For that reason, it is important to get to know them as people with busy lives outside the workplace.
Ask them to provide a CV or fill out an application and to provide referees. Teachers in NSW are not permitted to provide written references on school letterhead.
- Assess whether they are ready to work. Do they have other responsibilities that will need to be traded-off in order to take up a part-time job?
- Family responsibilities?
- Chores
- Pets
- Family holidays/obligations
- Sport and Recreation?
- Team sports
- Outside Interests (e.g. performing arts)
- Clubs
- How heavy is their study load?
Student achievement at school is assessed throughout the year with a schedule of school based assessment tasks for each of the subjects they are studying. During the school year, students will be aiming to meet the deadlines in their schedule, but there will be times when their workload is heavier than usual, during exam periods, for example.
Here is some information about when these extra expectations are generally placed on students in years 10, 11 and 12:
Year 10 students are working towards their School Certificate. This is an important credential, especially for students who might be thinking of leaving school and trying for a job, course or apprenticeship. Year 10 students have a schedule of assessment deadlines to meet in addition to the following:
Mid year exams/assessment- usually early term 2
End of course exams/assessment and Trial School Certificate exams- end term 3/ start term 4
Board of Studies School Certificate exams- in 2008 will commence on 10 November
Year 11 students are working towards their Preliminary Higher School Certificate. These courses finish at the end of term 3. Student continuing with the HSC commence these courses in term 4. In addition to their schedule of assessment tasks, Preliminary students may have the following:
Mid course exams- end term 1
End of course exams- mid-late term 3
Year 12 students are working towards their Higher School Certificate (HSC). In addition to their schedule of assessment tasks, HSC students generally have the following exam schedule:
Mid course exams- in the second half of term 1
Trial HSC exams- mid term 3
HSC exams- - in 2008 will commence on 16 October for a duration of about 4 weeks.
For exact information on Board of Studies exam timetables go to: http://boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/events/
- During the interview, find out what is most important to them:
- Something they will enjoy - What are their hobbies/interests?
- Something that will help them gain experience for their working career - What do they want to do later on?
- Flexibility - What kind of flexibility are they looking for (daily, weekly, overall amount of work)? Can you reasonably offer it?
- Working with friends - Do their friends already work for you?
- New Skills - What would they like to learn how to do?
- Convenience - What is attractive about your location and hours?
Source: LeadingEdition, Purdue University. Retrieved 16 January 2008 from
http://www.purdue.edu/hr/LeadingEdition/LEdi_704_hiring_students.htm