Federal Work Study Q & A
Q. After we are hired and the manager signs our Interest Form, where do we submit it?
A. All signed Interest Forms are to be submitted to Financial Aid in person, by fax to 575-7718 or scanned to either wardas@yosemite.edu or rodriguesj@yosemite.edu
Q. Are the workshops mandatory to attend?
A. Yes, but only 2 are mandatory each semester. If the workshops offered are not at a good time for you, please contact the Career Services Center and they will work with you.
Q. Will I be paid to attend these mandatory workshops?
A. Yes! Please keep in mind you cannot work more than 20 hours per week and the time you are paid for these workshops will count toward those 20 hours.
Q. Should I miss class to attend the mandatory workshops?
A. No! You are a student first and foremost. You should never miss class to work or to attend a mandatory workshop.
Q. I received Federal Work Study last year, the department I worked in has already told me they want to hire me back, do I still have to create an account on Job Speaker?
A. Yes! This is an entirely new process for FWS and all students are REQUIRED to create a Job Speaker account, and all departments are required to hire the FWS students using Job Speaker. If this process is not utilized, it will create a delay in your employment start date.
Q. Since I was awarded Federal Work Study, am I guaranteed a job?
A. No. There are only enough funds for 225 on campus jobs. Over 1100 students were awarded Federal Work Study. Not every student will want the Federal Work Study award, but for those who do, you will have to apply and interview for the position.
Q. Why does my Interest Form say I can only work 16 hours a week?
A. Every student is awarded what they are eligible for. Your award is based on the information reported on your FAFSA. If your Interest Form has a lower number than 20, that is the maximum number of hours you may work per week. Please make sure your manager is aware of this during the interview.
Q. What if I don’t work my maximum hours one week, can I make up for it the next week?
A. You cannot work more than 20 hours in one week.
Q. There are a lot of jobs on Job Speaker. How do I know which ones are Federal Work Study jobs?
A. The Federal Work Study jobs are notated with a small house icon.
Q. Can I apply to more than one FWS job?
A. Yes, you should apply to all jobs you are interested in.
Q. What if I’m hired for a position and I don’t like the job? Can I apply to a different department?
A. We suggest discussing any issues with a supervisor or manager before you decide to leave a job. After about a month into the semester, all FWS jobs are usually filled so we cannot guarantee that you will be able to find another position on campus.