Students Excel in Work-Study Program

Reporter: Omar Soliman

Editor: Alya Moussa

Photographer: Jumana Labib

The AUC  Career Center has for many years guided students on how to prepare for their future employment opportunities by providing internships, mock interviews, and numerous workshops. 

Nouran Victor, the Assistant Director at AUC’s  Career Center, told The Caravan that they work on securing different types of vacancies and positions to match the interests and needs of AUC students in different majors and class levels.

“The Career Center makes sure that there’s diversity in the opportunities we provide for students by building a lot of relationships with known companies and employees.  There are full-time,  part-time, temporary, and seasonal opportunities,” Victor said. 

However, one of the best opportunities provided by the Center for students looking to enhance their career employability once they graduate is the Work Study Program, which encourages undergraduates and graduates to work in between their classes.

Eligible students are given the opportunity to work in various departments where they learn to multitask, excel under pressure, and understand the classroom and office environment from a professional perspective. 

Students enrolled in the program, who most often become Teaching Assistants (TA), say that it might not offer significant financial benefits, but does provide them with real-world experience to give them an advantage once they graduate.

The program enables students to get a head start in the job market with endless skills gained throughout their experience. In addition, students get to work from eight to ten hours per week.

According to the Work Study Program website, “there is a maximum number of hours that undergraduate students are allowed to work in each semester; for example, in the Fall and Spring the maximum hours are 120 hours.” 

Recent graduate Rany Awad stressed how important it is to always seek opportunities that the Career Center offers like the job fairs and the Work Study Program.

“If I were still a student, I would have joined the Work Study Program, and I still think about joining it at the time being, as I am sure it will enhance my skills dramatically and give me an advantage in the job market,” said Awad.  

According to Aya Ali, a TA for four courses and five sections, the process isn’t difficult at all. 

TAs are chosen based on their skills,and the grade they have received in the course because this shows the knowledge they have regarding the course. 

“I emailed the professors who taught courses that I was interested in and got an A in and the ones who needed a TA replied back, so I had to take a workshop and when I passed its exam, I officially became an enrolled TA,” said Ali.  

TAing, as the opportunity is often called, is popular and increasingly competitive at AUC.

“One of the many advantages of being a TA is that you get so much experience from the inside; from the professor of the department, and you feel like you are inside the kitchen and that teaches you a lot. I do not know any disadvantages of being a TA to be honest,” said Kenzy Deif, who assists on two courses.