On-campus
jobs appealing to students
By Allison Baldwin
Online Forty-Niner
Editorial Assistant
Cal State Long Beach is rich in opportunities for students, including an abundance
of student job opportunities on campus.
One of the most prominent employers at CSULB is 49er Shops Inc., which manages
resources like the University Bookstore, dining in the residence halls, the art
store, three convenience stores and many cash dining locations like the Chart
Room and the Nugget.
The bookstore receives approximately 1,000 applications each year and hires anywhere
from 150 to 200 students in the fall semester.
When spring rolls around, they usually hire about 100 more students. According
to Director of Bookstore Services Fred Neely, the bookstore looks for previous
experience, availability and good interpersonal skills when searching through
the applicant pool.
“
We hire friendly people,” Neely said.
Students looking for a job at the bookstore are most likely to be offered a job
as a cashier; the store hires temporary cashiers for the first three to four
weeks of each semester to handle the long lines of students ready to pay for
their textbooks and other supplies. 49er Shops Inc. also hires a large number
of students to serve as information sources in the store when students are searching
for books at the beginning of the semester. Though the jobs may not be favorable
to those seeking long-term employment, Neely said there are many students who
return each semester for the short-term position.
Students who choose to work for 49er Shops Inc. have the opportunity for growth
within the company. For instance, there are three levels of employment options
open to students in the bookstore. Entry-level workers, like cashiers, earn $6.75
per hour. The next level, which includes clerical workers and assistants to the
store buyers, earn $7.45 per hour; student assistants — who make higher
level decisions and supervise others — earn $8.25 per hour. As an added
benefit to having a higher salary, it is more likely students working in the
higher
two levels will be placed in a job fitting their major, Neely said.
Students working on campus receive a variety of benefits. On-campus employers
are likely to work with class schedules and provide convenient shifts. The location
is also a plus.
“
If [students] are on campus, they can work here and not worry about transportation,” Neely
said.
“
It’s really convenient,” said freshman business major Elizabeth
Baldwin, who works in Residence dining commons. “I recommend that students
work on campus because it’s really close and they are accommodating to
schedules.”
Students working for 49er Shops Inc.”also receive perks on campus. For
the duration of their employment, workers receive a 10 to 20 percent discount
bookstore merchandise. Employees of the bookstore also receive a 15 percent discount
textbooks while those working in residence dining get a free meal when working
a full shift.
“
Nintey-five percent of our customer base is students,” Neely said. “We
can stay connected with students on campus [while] still providing products
and services they need to be successful in pursuing their educational goal.”
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