Student Employment at Virginia Tech
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Student Employment at Virginia Tech
Working at Virginia Tech is more than earning a paycheck. Student employment provides opportunities to gain experience, build skills, connect with the university community, and explore careers while working around your academic schedule.
Virginia Tech employs more than 8,000 graduate and undergraduate students in positions across the university.
Whether you're looking for your first campus job, a position related to your field of study, or an opportunity to build your professional experience, there are many ways to get involved.
Explore student jobs on Handshake.
Find a Student Job at Virginia Tech
Start with Handshake
Handshake is the central platform for finding student employment opportunities at Virginia Tech. Many student positions are posted throughout the year, so students are encouraged to check Handshake regularly.
Questions regarding Handshake?
Please visit Virginia Tech Career and Professional Development.
Because student employment is decentralized across the university, not every opportunity is managed in the same way. Some departments and programs recruit students directly through their own employment pages.
Explore some of the university's largest student employment areas below.
Explore Student Employment Opportunities
Dining Services
Dining Services offers a wide variety of student employment opportunities across campus. Positions can provide flexible schedules, opportunities to work with others, and experience in areas ranging from food service and hospitality to customer service and operations.
Dining Services hires 800–1,100 students annually.
Recreational Sports
Recreational Sports employs students in a wide variety of roles, including facility operations, fitness, aquatics, intramural sports, adventure programs, marketing, communications, and special events.
More than 800 students work with Recreational Sports during the academic year.
Residence Life
Residence Life offers opportunities for students interested in building community, developing leadership skills, and supporting their fellow Hokies.
Residence Life hires approximately 200 Resident Advisors each year, along with other student employment opportunities.
Other Student Employment Opportunities
Student jobs are available throughout Virginia Tech in academic departments, administrative offices, research, libraries, campus programs, and many other areas.
Graduate students have additional opportunities to work and receive funding through graduate assistantships and other graduate student employment.
Assistantships may include:
- Teaching Assistantships
- Research Assistantships
- Administrative or Graduate Assistantships
Many assistantship opportunities are managed at the department or program level. Graduate students should connect with their academic department and explore Graduate School resources for available opportunities and funding.
Find events, opportunities and services for graduate students on the GLC Weekly Postings page.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program that allows eligible students to earn money through part-time employment.
FWS opportunities are available with Virginia Tech departments and other eligible organizations. If you have been awarded Federal Work-Study, look for positions in Handshake and follow the application instructions provided by the employer.
Federal Work-Study is earned through employment—it is not a grant or a loan that must be repaid.
Once You're Hired
There are a few important steps to complete before you begin working.
All new Virginia Tech employees must complete the required employment paperwork, including Form I-9. Students must provide original documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work.
Every student worker must complete an I-9.
If you have completed an I-9 at Virginia Tech in the last year, you may not need to complete another one. However, if an employee completes an I-9 and then doesn’t work for the following 90 days, they have to complete a new I-9 if they return to the university for work.
The easiest way to complete this form is by bringing your passport or your driver's license and social security card.
For a complete list of acceptable items please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services site.
Student employees will need to complete the appropriate payroll and direct deposit requirements found on Hokie Spa.
Students will need to keep track and log their hours through the Employee Dashboard and submit for approval.
For more information please visit Banner Time Entry and reference the Frequently Asked Questions for Wage Employees.
Your hiring department or supervisor is your first point of contact for questions about your specific position, schedule, work expectations, and department processes.
For university employment resources and requirements visit our Virginia Tech Human Resources site.
Division of Human Resources Talent Acquisition Team
North End Center, Suite 2300
300 Turner Street NW
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Hours Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone 540-231-9331
Fax 540-231-3830
Email recruiting@vt.edu
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