Types of Employment

Federal Work Study (FWS) jobs are only available to you if you have been awarded and accepted FWS aid in your financial aid award package.

The FWS program enables students with financial need to work a part-time job on campus, earning money that helps pay for education and living expenses while enrolled at UNC Charlotte.

The hourly rate earned will be at least $9/hour; however, you may earn more, depending on the type of work and skills required for the position.

Students are awarded up to $4,000 for the academic year. Total federal work-study earnings for the academic year cannot exceed the annual award amount.

Money is earned as you work throughout the semester, so you will not have the money “up front” in the beginning of the semester to pay your student account bill.

Flexible job–one that fits around your class schedule – because your studies come first.

Maximum of 29 hours per week (during regular class sessions). This maximum includes other student worker jobs on campus.

You may have the opportunity to work in a field related to your major, with a manager who may serve as a future job reference.

Log in to MyCharlotte.

Under Quick Links, click the Banner Self Service icon.

Click on the Financial Aid tab.

Click on “My Financial Aid Award Information”.

Click on “Award By Aid Year.”

Select your aid year from the drop down box. (For Fall 2022 awards, the aid year will be 2022-2023.) Click Submit.

Click on the “Accept Award Offer” tab.

Review your award and select “Accept” or “Decline” for each offer. Click “Submit Decision.”

Review the information under the “Terms and Conditions” tab.

Watch for an email prior to the start of the fall semester. The email will provide many details about how to apply for jobs, documents needed prior to working, and FWS orientation.

Apply for jobs in Hire-a-Niner. You will need an approved resume in order to apply. (Please allow 2-3 days processing time after you accept your FWS for the aid before you apply for a job.)

Interview and accept a job. This process will give you valuable experience for when you interview for future career positions. Accept the job that best fits you and your skills, or experience you wish to gain.

View your next steps after accepting a job.

Click on the “Accept Award Offer” tab.

Review your award and select “Accept” or “Decline”

If you have made arrangements to keep the same position, in the same department, follow these steps for reappointment:

1. Ask your hiring manager to complete an FWS EPAF.
2. During peak time, it may take 10 business days for your paperwork to be reviewed and for you to be set up for payroll.

If you want to keep your work-study aid, but want to find a different job on campus, follow these steps:

• Apply for a new job in Hire-a-Niner. You will need an approved resume in order to apply.
• Interview and accept a job. If you are selected to be interviewed, the hiring department will contact you directly.
• Orientation is only required once. If you have previously completed the online orientation, you do not have to do it again.

If you complete the steps above, you may start working on the first day of classes.

The hourly rate earned will be at least $9/hour; however, you may earn more, depending on the type of work and skills required for the position.

The exact amount of work-study earned depends upon the hours actually worked and the pay rate per hour. The rate of pay varies depending on the department and the student’s experience level.

Students are awarded an average of $4,000 for the academic year. Total federal work-study earnings for the academic year cannot exceed the annual award amount.

Money is earned as you work throughout the semester, so you will not have the money “up front” in the beginning of the semester to pay your student account bill.

Maximum of 29 hours per week (during regular class sessions). This maximum includes other student worker jobs on campus. Most students work 7-10 hours per week total.

You will complete weekly time sheets to keep track of your hours worked, and you will be paid biweekly, either by direct deposit or by check.

What is a Federal Work Study job?

Federal Work-Study vs. Student Employment

Upload Resume

All resumes in Hire-A-Niner must be approved by the Career Center team before your can apply for a position, so make sure you give yourself enough cushion to complete this step. Resume approvals usually take 1-2 business days to complete. Drop in for resume assistance can also help to speed the approval process along

Prepare a Cover Letter

Drop in for cover letter help ; no appointment needed. Remember to target each cover letter to individual opportunities for which you are applying. 

Search Hire-A-Niner

Positions all have “UPIP” at the beginning of the position title. Application instructions can be found with each position.

Practice Interviewing

You can either practice online through Big Interview, sign up to practice with employers through the Interview Prep Program, or make an appointment with your career coach. Practice makes better. 

Preparing While Waiting

When a position is taken down from Hire-A-Niner, it normally signifies interviews are about to begin. Continue to prepare for the interview, be ready for the possibility to be called for an interview, and keep searching. All hiring decisions are made by the hiring department, not the Career Center team. 

Complete HR Paperwork

If you landed a UPIP position, CONGRATULATIONS! The next step is to complete your I-9 and the HR paperwork packet; take the completed paperwork and proof of ID to Human Resources in the King Building.

How do I apply for Federal Work-Study Aid?

• Complete the FAFSA

How do I know if I am eligible for Federal Work-Study aid?

• You must demonstrate financial need, which is based on the results of the FAFSA. Once UNC Charlotte receives your FAFSA information, you will be notified if you are offered Federal Work-Study aid. You must be enrolled at least-half time.

How do I find a FWS job?

• Only students who are offered and have accepted FWS aid can apply for FWS positions.
• To find a job, follow these steps:
  • Watch for an email prior to the start of the fall semester. The email will provide many details about how to apply for jobs, documents needed prior to working, and FWS orientation.
  • Apply for jobs in Hire-a-Niner. You will need an approved resume in order to apply. (Please allow 2-3 days processing time after you accept your FWS for the aid before you apply for a job.)

How do I know if I got a job?

• After you interview with a department, ask their hiring manager when and how they will contact you if you are selected. Each department will have a different process and timeline for hiring students.

How do I get paid?

• You will complete weekly time sheets to keep track of your hours worked, and you will be paid biweekly. Money earned is paid to the student, either by direct deposit, or by check.

Can I work for the summer?

Yes, but only after your first year. You will have to have completed a FAFSA for the current academic year and the upcoming academic year, and show demonstrated need. You must also complete the Summer Financial Aid Application which is available on April 15th prior to the upcoming summer.

Hourly jobs are not subsidized by the federal government and are available to all eligible students.

The hiring department pays 100% of the student’s wages.

Receive biweekly paychecks for hours actually worked in your department.

Hourly earnings are considered taxable income by the IRS.

You may apply for hourly employment positions throughout the year. New jobs are posted daily.

Student employees are paid a minimum of $9 per hour.

You may be compensated at a higher rate depending upon critieria such as skills and/or responsibiliites required, length of service, etc.

During the academic year and the summer while you are attending classes, you are allowed to work up to twenty (20) hours in any given week.

Upload Resume

All resumes in Hire-A-Niner must be approved by the Career Center team before your can apply for a position, so make sure you give yourself enough cushion to complete this step. Resume approvals usually take 1-2 business days to complete. Drop in for resume assistance can also help to speed the approval process along

Prepare a Cover Letter

Drop in for cover letter help ; no appointment needed. Remember to target each cover letter to individual opportunities for which you are applying. 

Search Hire-A-Niner

Positions all have “UPIP” at the beginning of the position title. Application instructions can be found with each position.

Practice Interviewing

You can either practice online through Big Interview, sign up to practice with employers through the Interview Prep Program, or make an appointment with your career coach. Practice makes better. 

Preparing While Waiting

When a position is taken down from Hire-A-Niner, it normally signifies interviews are about to begin. Continue to prepare for the interview, be ready for the possibility to be called for an interview, and keep searching. All hiring decisions are made by the hiring department, not the Career Center team. 

Complete HR Paperwork

If you landed a UPIP position, CONGRATULATIONS! The next step is to complete your I-9 and the HR paperwork packet; take the completed paperwork and proof of ID to Human Resources in the King Building.

Internships offered through the University Professional Internship Program (UPIP) differ significantly from most other student employment positions on campus, as they are designed to provide professional knowledge and skill development consistent with your major/career goals. UPIP positions are not your average student employment job where you just show up and complete tasks as directed. We work with departments and students to make sure that experiences are valuable and mutually beneficial. 

UPIP students must participate in professional development opportunities, as part of a course they are assigned to complete each semester. UPIP interns are expected to be proactive, diligent, and involved. At the end of the internship, you should have built a portfolio, participated in networking opportunities, and be able to incorporate the experience into your resume. 

Students may hold the same UPIP internship up to 4 semesters only. 

Internships are part-time during the fall and spring semesters, with students typically working 12 hours/week. 

UNC Charlotte faculty and administrators serve as mentors.

All positions pay $13 an hour. 

UPIP internships are available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors seeking a first bachelor’s degree and are in good standing with the University, with an overall GPA or 2.5 or higher.

Students must adhere to the university policy on campus employment (students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week TOTAL at UNC Charlotte). Students are required to disclose other employment on campus to UPIP mentors.

Upload Resume

All resumes in Hire-A-Niner must be approved by the Career Center team before your can apply for a position, so make sure you give yourself enough cushion to complete this step. Resume approvals usually take 1-2 business days to complete. Drop in for resume assistance can also help to speed the approval process along

Prepare a Cover Letter

Drop in for cover letter help ; no appointment needed. Remember to target each cover letter to individual opportunities for which you are applying. 

Search Hire-A-Niner

Positions all have “UPIP” at the beginning of the position title. Application instructions can be found with each position.

Practice Interviewing

You can either practice online through Big Interview, sign up to practice with employers through the Interview Prep Program, or make an appointment with your career coach. Practice makes better. 

Preparing While Waiting

When a position is taken down from Hire-A-Niner, it normally signifies interviews are about to begin. Continue to prepare for the interview, be ready for the possibility to be called for an interview, and keep searching. All hiring decisions are made by the hiring department, not the Career Center team. 

Complete HR Paperwork

If you landed a UPIP position, CONGRATULATIONS! The next step is to complete your I-9 and the HR paperwork packet; take the completed paperwork and proof of ID to Human Resources in the King Building.

Hire-A-Niner is a database of off-campus employers in the local community interested in hiring undergrad and graduate students.

Jobs may be part-time, temporary, seasonal, full-time, or internships.

You would be hired and paid by the company who posted the position, not the university.

Hours and salary will vary.

Upload Resume

All resumes in Hire-A-Niner must be approved by the Career Center team before your can apply for a position, so make sure you give yourself enough cushion to complete this step. Resume approvals usually take 1-2 business days to complete. Drop in for resume assistance can also help to speed the approval process along

Prepare a Cover Letter

Drop in for cover letter help ; no appointment needed. Remember to target each cover letter to individual opportunities for which you are applying. 

Search Hire-A-Niner

Positions all have “UPIP” at the beginning of the position title. Application instructions can be found with each position.

Practice Interviewing

You can either practice online through Big Interview, sign up to practice with employers through the Interview Prep Program, or make an appointment with your career coach. Practice makes better. 

Preparing While Waiting

When a position is taken down from Hire-A-Niner, it normally signifies interviews are about to begin. Continue to prepare for the interview, be ready for the possibility to be called for an interview, and keep searching. All hiring decisions are made by the hiring department, not the Career Center team. 

Complete HR Paperwork

If you landed a UPIP position, CONGRATULATIONS! The next step is to complete your I-9 and the HR paperwork packet; take the completed paperwork and proof of ID to Human Resources in the King Building.

Graduate Assistants (GAs) receive financial support for their contributions to the teaching and research missions of the University. The GA’s role is different from other forms of employment, due to the kind of work they do, the quality of supervision they receive, and the outcomes they achieve. Under federal law (FLSA), Research Assistants (RAs) are not considered employees, since they must have an educational relationship with the supervisor and hiring department rather than an employement relationship. Teaching Assistants (TAs) are teaching employees of the university.

Graduate students seeking Teaching Assistant (TA) roles must have a minimum of 18 credit hours to serve as a primary instructor (Instructor of Record or IOR). Visit the Academic Affairs web pages for more information.

Other University policies on GAs are located in the Student Funding & Assistantships section of the Graduate School’s website. 

Most GAs are hired by the student’s academic department.  Stipends, responsibilities, selection criteria, application and notification procedures vary from department to department, so contact your Graduate Program Director for additional information on available assistantships.

Individuals interested in employment as a Graduate Assistant must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

• Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree; Full admission to a graduate degree program;
• Current enrollment in at least six (6) or nine (9) semester hours (or equivalent thesis/dissertation research) depending upon the type of assistantship; and
• An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, or completion of at least six (6) hours of graduate degree work with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

If you are a recently hired graduate assistant, and have never worked on campus in any capacity, you must:

• Sign and return your graduate assistantship contract within all established deadlines;
• Attend a graduate assistant orientation program;
• Complete all required employment paperwork with the Human Resources department or International Student/Scholar Offices (Foreign National Graduate Assistants) no later than your first day of employment.

If you are a returning graduate assistant, in addition to the timely submission of your signed contract, you must:

• Work no more than twenty (20) hours in any given week in either your assistantship, or your assistantship and any other on-campus student employment assignment;
• Participate in all required evaluation processes and maintain satisfactory work performances;
• Maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and make satisfactory progress towards completion of a graduate degree thorugh UNC Charlotte or other approved inter-institutional degree program.

Note: The aforementioned requirements for ‘returning’ graduate assistants also pertain to ‘new’ graduate assistants.

Graduate assistants are paid semi-monthly stipends on the 15th (or last business day prior to the 15th) and the last business day of each month. Graduate assistants are not required to complete monthly timesheets.

For more information regarding your designation as a prospective, or current, graduate student and/or graduate assistant, please visit the UNC Charlotte Graduate School website. You may also reach their offices at: (704) 687-5503 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday – Friday.

The great majority of Graduate Assistants on campus are hired by the student’s department. Stipends, responsibilities, selection criteria, application and notification procedures vary from department to department, so contact your Graduate Program Director for additional information on available assistantships.

Looking outside your department? Positions are posted on Hire-A-Niner. Under Advanced Search, view Position Type: “Graduate Assistantship”.

You will need an approved resume to apply in Hire-A-Niner.