Navigating Student Jobs at Georgia Tech: A Comprehensive Guide to Requirements and Opportunities

Georgia Tech offers a wide array of on-campus employment opportunities for its students, providing valuable work experience and financial assistance. However, navigating the requirements and eligibility criteria for these positions can be complex. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to student jobs at Georgia Tech, outlining the requirements, eligibility, and important considerations for prospective student employees.

Eligibility Requirements for Student Employment

To be eligible for student employment at Georgia Tech, applicants must be enrolled as a Georgia Tech student. Degree-seeking students currently enrolled at Georgia Tech, and previously enrolled students taking only a one or two semester break from classes, are eligible for student employment at the Institute. In specific instances, a student enrolled at another University System of Georgia (USG) school may be eligible to be employed in a student position at Georgia Tech. Student employee positions are considered temporary and non-benefits eligible. Georgia Tech will comply with all federal, state, and local laws regarding the employment of USG students.

Social Security Number (SSN) Requirements

If selected for a role, students will be required to acquire a Social Security Number (SSN) prior to their first day. F-1 students who are employed are eligible for a Social Security Number. F-2s are not eligible for a Social Security Number. J visa holders are eligible for a Social Security Number whether employed or not.

Obtaining an SSN:

Request a support letter by logging into iStart and submitting the "OIE On-Campus Employment Letter Request" e-form found under SSN and Taxes. You will be required to upload your job offer letter into the e-form. A support letter will be generated for you, and you'll be notified of pick-up options.
For those not employed by GT, you are not required to have an OIE Support letter for your application. You will instead use your employment offer letter.
Once you have obtained your SSN, complete the HR "Social Security Number Update" e-form in iStart under Affiliates and Employees > New Affiliates and Employees.

It is important to protect your Social Security Number to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. You should not carry your Social Security card around with you but keep it in a safe place. Avoid giving it out to anyone who does not have a legitimate reason to ask for it.

Hour Restrictions

Students are limited in the number of hours per week they can work for the institute. During Fall and Spring semesters, students cannot exceed 20 hours per week, regardless of how many jobs they have on campus. International Students in lawful F-1 and J-1 status may work more than 20 hours per week during school holidays and breaks.

Types of Student Positions

Georgia Tech offers various student positions, each with specific eligibility requirements and responsibilities.

Student Assistant

Students actively enrolled at Georgia Tech, or another University System of Georgia (USG) school, are eligible to be employed at Georgia Tech in a Student Assistant position. Previously enrolled Georgia Tech and USG students taking only a one or two semester break from classes are also eligible for Student Assistant positions.

Most Student Assistants are in a student pay group, and employment is limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week. In certain situations, a student may be eligible to be hired as a Student Assistant in a temporary pay group for a maximum of 40 hours per week. Note: Student Assistant in temporary pay group 03C is the only student job-code/pay-group combination where a student may be employed more than 20 hours per week.

Resident Assistant (RA)

Students in Resident Assistant (RA) positions must be full-time degree-seeking Georgia Tech students selected by the Department of Housing and Residence Life. The main function of an RA is to build community and relationships with residents to provide programming, individualized support, campus resource information, and academic encouragement.

Student Assistant - PURA

Only Georgia Tech student recipients of President’s Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) salary awards are eligible to be employed in Student Assistant- PURA positions. President’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) fund salaries to undergraduate students who are conducting research under the supervision and mentorship of a Georgia Tech or Georgia Tech Research Institute faculty. Between two hundred and three hundred competitive awards are offered each year. PURA recipients are only allowed to work during the semester of their award (not between semesters).

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Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Only Georgia Tech student recipients of a Federal Work-Study Award administered by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid are eligible to be employed in FWS positions. At Georgia Tech, FWS is awarded to undergraduate students who are enrolled at least half-time during the semester and demonstrate financial need. Students may work on campus, off campus, or in a community service position. FWS employees are only allowed to work when classes are in session (not during holidays or official school breaks). To be considered for a FWS award, students must complete both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Georgia Tech Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid (GT App) each year by the published deadline.

Graduate Positions: GRA, GTA and GA

Graduate students are eligible for several types of student positions. Students holding multiple jobs at Georgia Tech can only be in one pay group (ex: paid monthly or bi-monthly, but not both).

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) and Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)

Only Georgia Tech graduate students registered for full-time coursework (12+ credit hours) are eligible for GRA and GTA positions. Eligible students must be hired in these roles for a 33-50% FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) workload.

Graduate Assistant - Monthly

Only Georgia Tech graduate students concurrently employed as either a GRA or GTA are eligible for Graduate Assistant- Monthly positions. These positions are only used to facilitate additional Graduate Assistant workload on top of a GRA or GTA position (e.g., a second campus job with a different department).

Graduate Assistant with Fellowship - Monthly

Georgia Tech graduate students primarily funded by fellowships are eligible for Graduate Assistant with Fellowship - Monthly positions. These positions are used to facilitate Graduate Assistant workload to supplement a student's fellowship funding.

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Graduate Assistant - Hourly

Only enrolled Georgia Tech graduate students satisfying minimum enrollment requirements, and not concurrently employed in a monthly-paid position, are eligible to hold Graduate Assistant-Hourly positions.

On-Campus Employment for International Students

International students with valid F-1 or J-1 student status issued by Georgia Tech are eligible to work on campus as student employees. F-1s must have a Georgia Tech I-20; J-1s must have a Georgia Tech DS-2019. On-campus employment is a benefit of the F-1 and J-1 visa status upon reporting to Georgia Institute of Technology and completing the OIE check-in process. On-campus work is subject to GT policies.

F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to work on campus:

Fall/Spring academic semesters: Maximum of 20 hours per week
Semester breaks, Official school/Summer Vacation: Full-time on-campus employment is allowed during this time. Full-time work is considered to be 20+ hours/week. (Exception: if a student is required to register for the summer, such as a GRA/GTA, then only 20 hours per week maximum is permitted). This full-time eligibility is subject to GT policy.

On-campus employment is not permitted after program completion unless the student has applied for off-campus work authorization. Please note that Knack is an off-campus entity, and F-1 student visa holders are ineligible to work for Knack. Engaging in employment with Knack will result in a violation of F-1 student visa status and termination of the F-1 SEVIS record.

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

The government has not issued guidance or regulations on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) eligibility for F-1 student visa holders. Federal regulations prohibit off-campus employment without Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 student visa holders. Due to the lack of government guidance on NIL for F-1 student visa holders, the Georgia Institute of Technology is unable to advise on eligibility for NIL payments.

Registration, Courseload, and Allowable Employment Hours

Students who are registered for half-time or greater courseload are eligible to be employed for a maximum of 20 hours per week (all GT jobs combined) and must be employed in a student job code and in a student pay group. A half-time courseload is considered 6 credit hours for undergraduates and 3 credit hours for graduate students.

Students who are registered for less than half-time credit load (or registered for only Co-Op or Internship credit hours) may be hired for up to 40 hours per week (all GT jobs combined). A less than half-time credit load is less than 6 credit hours for undergraduates and less than 3 credit hours for graduate students.

Previously enrolled students, who are temporarily not registered for any credit hours for only one or two semesters, may also be hired for up to 40 hours per week. However, any student employment exceeding 20 hours per week (up to a maximum of 40 hours per week) must be in a Student Assistant position and cannot be in a student pay group.

Co-Ops/Internships at Georgia Tech

An enrolled USG student in the designated work semester of a Co-Op or Internship program with Georgia Tech as the employer, and registered for only Co-op or Internship credit hours, is eligible to be employed for up to 40 hours per week. The 40-hour per week employment cannot be in a student pay group; therefore, a Co-Op or Internship student working more than 20 hours per week should be employed as a Student Assistant in temporary pay group 03C.

Holidays and Short School Breaks

Most student employees are eligible to be employed and continue working in their existing positions, with their supervisor’s approval, during school breaks of less than five weeks (e.g., winter break, spring break, campus holidays). Notable exceptions include Student Assistant-PURA and FWS employees.

While classes are not in session, during a school break less than 5 weeks, eligible hourly student employees (hired for 20 hours or less) are, with supervisor approval, allowed to work and report hours in excess of 20 hours per week (up to 40 hours per week) without the need to change their pay group or official employment hours. This applies to both US and International students.

Graduation Considerations

A student who has graduated and is not continuing enrollment toward another USG degree, is not eligible to continue working in a student position.

United States Citizen and Permanent Resident graduating students can work in student positions only until the last day of the pay period that includes their graduation (i.e., the last day of the month or the last day of the bi-weekly pay period depending on position pay frequency).

Graduating F-1 and J-1 student visa holders can work in a student position only until their SEVIS program end date. The end date is printed on the I-20 or DS-2019.

A student who is graduating and continuing toward another USG degree may be eligible to be hired as a Student Assistant in temporary pay group 03C during a semester break between degree programs. Their employment is temporary and incidental to the pursuit of a degree.

Application Process

All roles do NOT use the same application process. Review the role thoroughly to confirm. All applications will be reviewed. If selected, you will interview with a hiring manager or panel. This will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions about the role. If selected as a finalist, the hiring manager will extend a formal offer to you. Candidates will typically have a few days to decide.

Key Considerations

On-Campus vs. Off-Campus Employment: On-campus employment means that you are paid by Georgia Tech or working at a Georgia Tech location with an employer that is contracted to provide services to students, such as a food store in the Student Center. International student visa holders are not eligible to begin employment off-campus unless they have a valid work authorization.
New Students: New Georgia Tech students cannot begin working in a student job until the start of the pay period that includes the first day of classes during their first enrolled semester. Pay periods are monthly or biweekly depending on position.

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