Student Resources
If you are offered Federal Work-Study (FWS), there are some steps you must take to accept your offer and apply for jobs.
Please note that FWS jobs for the upcoming academic year become available for application beginning in May each year. You will not be able to apply for jobs until jobs are available. If you have accepted your work-study offer, we will notify you through your MIX email (via your WVU Portal) once fall jobs are posted.
How Do I Accept My FWS Offer?
See our Accept or Decline Aid webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to accept your financial aid online.
How Do I Apply for FWS Jobs in Handshake?
Please note that new (incoming, first-time) students will not have access to the Handshake job search database until approximately one week after they start registering for classes.
Step One: Accept your work-study offer
See our Accept or Decline Aid webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to accept your financial aid online.
Step Two: Log into Handshake and update your information
- Log into the Handshake job search database.
- If this is your first time logging in or if your information has changed, click on your name in the top right corner of the screen to show a drop-down menu, and select "My Profile." Here you can make sure your information is up-to-date.
Step Three: Upload your resume
- Now that your account is current, upload your resume. If you need help creating a resume, see the Build a Resume website for resume templates. You can even ask Career Services to review your resume via the same website.
- See the How to Upload a New Document website for step-by-step instructions.
- Use a distinctive Document Name (example: Resume - Updated May 30, 2022).
- Choose "Resume" as the Document Type.
Step Four: Upload your work availability
- Create a document that lists your availability (the days and hours you will be available to work) or use our Work Availability Form as a template.
- See the How to Upload a New Document website for step-by-step instructions.
- Use a distinctive Document Name (example: Fall 2021 Work Availability).
- Choose "Other document" as the Document Type.
Step Five: Search and apply for jobs
Please note that jobs for Fall 2022 are not available to search/apply for until June 6, 2022.
- Students should only apply for positions that they are truly interested in. Supervisors can hire applicants without setting up an interview if they feel you would be a good candidate for their position. Please keep this in mind when you are searching and applying for different positions. Students are hired by supervisors on a first-come, first-served basis.
- In Handshake, click on Jobs in the menu across the top of the page
- In the search bar, type "Federal Work Study"
- In the location bar, type your campus: "Morgantown, WV" or "Beckley, WV" or "Keyser, WV"
- Hit the Enter key on your keyboard to initiate the search
- Research and apply for three to five jobs. Note: You will be assigned to the first supervisor who hires you, so only apply for jobs you truly want.
- Monitor your MIX email via your WVU Portal. If a hiring supervisor has follow-up questions or wants to schedule an interview, they may email you.
- Additional resources:
Step Six: What happens after you apply?
After applying for an FWS position through Handshake, a supervisor will review prospective applicants.
Please be aware that, depending on the supervisor, they may not be able to respond quickly. See our What if I don't hear anything after I apply for jobs? FAQ for additional guidance.
After you apply, the supervisor may reach out to you directly to set up an in-person or phone interview. If you are selected for the position, WVU Shared Services will notify you if additional action is required. If you have already processed for payroll through WVU, you will receive an email with your official start date. If you are not processed for payroll, please move on to Step Seven.
Step Seven: After you are hired, process for payroll
Students must process for payroll and receive an official hire date before they can begin working. See the WVU Shared Services Employee Processing website. The information available is applicable for all WVU campuses.
Step Eight: After you process for payroll
After you process for payroll, you and your supervisor will receive an onboarding email from Shared Services that includes the earliest potential date you can start working. You MUST receive the onboarding email before you can begin working. AT no time should you begin working in a Federal Work-Study job assignment unless the onboarding email from Shared Services containing the earliest potential start date and employee information has been received.
Once you have received the official onboarding email, work with your supervisor to determine your first day of work and your schedule for the semester. Remember, the first day of work must be on or after the official "Start Date" from the onboarding email.
Step Nine: After you start working
Monitor Your Earnings
After you begin working, please be aware that you cannot earn more than the amount of work-study funds you have been offered as part of your financial aid. Your award amount is viewable on your Financial Aid Information via your WVU Portal and was provided to you as part of the hiring process. You will be notified via your MIX email should your work-study offer change. Click here to download the FWS Tracking Custom Salary file to help keep track of this information.
Tips to Succeed
You can also check out our How to Succeed webpage for tips on excelling in your work-study position.