Student Financial Services
Training student employees
As a supervisor of a student employee, you play a significant role in their development — both by assisting them in becoming responsible workers while acquiring the related skills, and in having an impact on their personal adjustment and growth. Supervising student workers can be a most rewarding experience. Orientation for your new employee might include:
- Staff introductions
- Tour of the office
- Use of phone, fax machine, and photocopier
- Computer usage policy, logging on and off
- Office etiquette and dress
- Procedures for recording and submitting hours worked
- Payroll deadlines and paycheck distribution
- Security and confidentiality policies (see FERPA under "forms" section)
- Supervisory role: Who is the student's supervisor?
- Provide a written job description and communicate job standards and expectations.
- Take time to train your new employee in the particular skills necessary to perform the job. Training may include time management, phone skills, quality service practices, confidentiality issues, and handling difficult situations.
- Give feedback early on
- Federal Work-Study jobs are "real jobs" and should carry high standards. At the same time, it is important to understand that student employees are students first and employees second.
- Provide a safe and comfortable workspace
- Treat student employees in accord with their rights
Evaluating student employees and setting goals
Like all of us, student employees deserve and appreciate regular constructive feedback on their work performance. Effective feedback can be as informal as a "pat on the back" or a quick training moment. We recommend that students be formally evaluated at least once during the academic year. Here is a sample student evaluation tool (PDF) (contact us for development planning worksheets/other evaluation forms).We also suggest that both the supervisor and the student complete the evaluation form independently and meet to discuss performance and develop learning goals. Consider:
- Provide a copy of the evaluation form to the student for their input on performance - prior to your conference
- Complete the evaluation form independently of the student
- Determine in advance what points you want to cover
- Plan when and where you will conduct the interview (so as not to be interrupted)
- Explain the purpose of the performance evaluation
- Talk about the job and review how the student thinks it is going
- Review performance, discuss areas for improvement, plan future goals, and provide challenges
- Give equal time to praise and criticism
- Be positive and direct, especially when providing constructive feedback
- Be fair; evaluate each student employee as objectively as possible
- Listen; find out what you can do to help the student achieve his/her goals
- Set realistic goals and provide the necessary training
- Re-evaluate and set new goals on a regular basis