A variety of job opportunities for students are available on campus. Some even provide the opportunity to lead peers in the workplace by assisting with hiring and training other students.

One area where this occurs is the dining centers.

“I work with students in a professional, yet friendly manner,” said Stephanie Thode, student assistant manager of Seasons Marketplace and senior in hotel, restaurant and institution management.

Student managers are able to help student employees and work with them more closely than full-time managers might be able to.

“I am able to identify with the students, which is often the factor that allows for student employees to feel comfortable speaking to student managers about problems or conflicts that they may be having,” Thode said.

To obtain student manager positions, students need to have significant experience within the dining centers and a sense of responsibility.

“I had to prove that I could communicate effectively with other student employees, as well as full-time employees. I also needed to show that I was reliable,” said Katy Miller, student assistant manager of Seasons Marketplace and senior in pre-advertising.

These responsibilities included always being on time, finishing tasks assigned and being able to step in whenever needed.

Although students need to meet many requirements to even be considered for the job, they also have several responsibilities to fulfill as a part of their job.

“With every shift, I ensure that all policies and procedures are being followed by all employees,” Thode said. “I ensure quality, safety, sanitation, and I help in any venue that is in need of help. I am also in charge of student employee payroll and ensure that student employees receive proper training for their positions.”

The student managers are an essential part of the dining centers and help to lighten the load of full-time managers.

“Between the 35 full-time employees and 250 to 300 student employees, I assist the managers in every way possible,” Miller said. “Student managers are trained in a way that if anything happened and a manager could not be present, then myself or another student manager steps in to take the position of manager. So we, as student managers, are trained in everything there is to know about the business.”

Although the dining centers employ a great number of students, there are other jobs on campus that require hiring assistance from student employees, too.

“I’ve helped with interviewing a hall director, hiring Cyclone Aides and leaders for Destination Iowa State,” said Austin Henshaw, community adviser of Helser MacDonald and junior in psychology. “I really enjoy helping people.”

Henshaw was able to gain a variety of experience through his involvement on campus.

“I was the vice president of Maple for [Inter-Residence Hall Association], and I got to help interview a hall director [applicant],” Henshaw said.

“Current Cyclone Aides helped with Cyclone Aide [applicant] check in, promoting it, and we escorted people to their interviews,” Henshaw said. “We [Cyclone Aides] also helped interview people for team leaders for Destination Iowa State later on in the year.”