Explore the Case for Redesign
See why traditional student jobs fall short and what can change.
The Current Reality
Across higher education, student employment systems were built for efficiency, not equity. They help departments run smoothly but often miss opportunities to develop the very skills employers value most—communication, teamwork, problem solving, and professionalism.
The result? Too many students complete college without being able to articulate how their work experience prepared them for a career. Meanwhile, employers report that only 11% strongly agree graduates possess the skills they need. This disconnect hits working learners hardest. 43% of student workers come from low-income backgrounds, and nearly half are first-generation or students of color. For them, campus jobs are often a financial lifeline—but they could also be a bridge to social and economic mobility, if intentionally designed.
Why Redesign Is Necessary
Traditional Employment Models Reinforce Inequities
Many student jobs are routine, task-based, and disconnected from academic or career goals. Without structures for feedback or mentoring, they replicate the same inequities that exist in the external labor market.
Supervisors Lack Training and Support
Supervisors are often hired for operational expertise, not educational mentorship. When they lack guidance, even well-intentioned supervisors struggle to help students grow beyond basic job duties.
Systems are Fragmented
HR, career services, and financial aid often operate in silos, making it difficult to align job descriptions, pay scales, and learning outcomes. Redesign efforts must intentionally bridge these systems.
Students Don’t Recognize Learning When It Happens
Without reflection or structured feedback, students fail to see how daily work connects to broader skill development. This leads to underemployment after graduation—students have the experience but not the narrative to describe its value.
Employers Expect More
Employers increasingly seek candidates who demonstrate “career readiness”—a mix of technical and interpersonal skills. Student employment, when designed intentionally, is one of the most effective ways to build those competencies early.
The Case for Change: A Systems Perspective
Redesigning student employment isn’t about fixing a broken job—it’s about evolving a system. The Work+ Collective views the employment experience through an ecosystem lens:
Individual
Focus: Student skill-building, reflection, identity
Redesign Opportunity: Integrate reflection tools and career competency frameworks
Interpersonal
Focus: Supervisor–student relationships
Redesign Opportunity: Train supervisors as mentors and educators
Institutional
Focus: HR, payroll, policy, culture
Redesign Opportunity: Align systems with learning and equity goals
Collective
Focus: Peer collaboration across institutions
Redesign Opportunity: Share tools, insights, and scalable models
This multi-level approach ensures that improvements are sustainable and systemic, not dependent on one champion or pilot program.