Frequently Asked Questions about Student Employment
- What are some of the advantages of working for the University?
- How do I find a job on campus?
- How often are jobs posted?
- How do I know if I’m eligible to work?
- What is FWS (Federal Work Study)?
- What does it mean if I do not have a valid SSN on file?
- What is an I-9 form?
- My referral indicates that I do not have a valid I-9, how do I obtain one?
- I don’t see an “Add to Job Cart” button, how do I apply for the position?
- I processed referrals a few weeks ago but haven’t heard back from employers, what do I do now?
- I have been offered a position, what happens next?
- When can I start work?
- How much do student employees get paid?
- How many hours am I allowed to work?
- Can I hold more than one job with the University?
- When can I expect to receive my first paycheck?
- When and where do I get my paychecks/pay stubs?
- How do I set up direct deposit for my wages?
- When are timesheets due?
- According to my timesheet, my appointment period has ended; what happens now?
- Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about my job?
- If I am graduating, when is the last day that I’m eligible to work?
- How do I get my last paycheck/pay stub from employer?
What are some of the advantages of working for the University?
You can earn competitive wages while working in an environment that supports your educational goals (greater flexibility towards schedules).
You can seek a variety of employment experiences that can begin at entry-level and advance to a higher-level of responsibility and skill.
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How do I find a job on campus?
To find a job on campus, you should first visit the sece system and log in with your UH username and password to complete your profile. Once you have done this, you may begin searching and applying for positions using the referral process. For details on the referral process, please see the “Obtaining Referrals – Visual Guide” link located on the Main Student Menu page.
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How often are jobs posted?
Job listings are posted on the sece website on a daily basis.
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How do I know if I’m eligible to work?
Please see the following link: https://sece.its.hawaii.edu/sece/help/std/std_jobprogram_help.html. However, there are different eligibility criteria, so if you are unsure about your situation, please contact us.
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What is FWS (Federal Work Study)?
You can find our more information about FWS in our Federal Work Study section of the website.
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What does it mean if I do not have a valid SSN on file?
If you encounter this message when doing your job search, please contact us for assistance. A social security number (SSN) is required for employment.
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What is an I-9 form?
The Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form. It is used by an employer to verify an employee’s identity and to establish that the worker is eligible to accept employment in the United States.
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My referral indicates that I do not have a valid I-9, how do I obtain one?
You are required to complete the I-9 form only AFTER you have been offered a position. Not having a valid I-9 on file will not affect your job search.
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I don’t see an “Add to Job Cart” button, how do I apply for the position?
If you don’t see the “Add to Job Cart” button on the job listing, it means the system deems you ineligible for the job program. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact us for further assistance.
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I processed referrals a few weeks ago but haven’t heard back from employers, what do I do now?
The job referral process does not automatically contact employers about your interest in the position. When you process a referral, it merely unlocks more details about the position and the contact information for the employer. It is up to you to follow-up with the employer to apply for the position. For details on the referral process, please see the “Obtaining Referrals – Visual Guide” link located on the Main Student Menu page.
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I have been offered a position, what happens next?
You will need to complete payroll forms with your employer. Forms minimally include tax withholding certificates and a direct deposit form. Your employer may require additional documents. You will also need to complete the electronic version of the Federal Form I-9 which can be accessed from your Main Student Menu on sece. This requires government-issued documents that verify your identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Please view page 5 of the Federal I-9 Form for a list of acceptable forms of identification. Photocopies are not accepted.
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When can I start work?
You may begin work after your payroll forms have been finalized. You and your supervisor will receive an email confirmation that it has been approved. You may also view “My Placements” at sece.
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How much do student employees get paid?
The UH Pay Scale displays the hourly wages for each class/step for a position. Hourly wages are based on the duties and qualifications of the position.
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How many hours am I allowed to work?
Students may not work more than 20 hours per week during the regular semesters.
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Can I hold more than one job with the University?
Yes, you can hold multiple jobs as long as you do not exceed 20 hours per week for all jobs combined during the regular semester. You must complete a Multi-Job Memo by obtaining signatures from all your employers and submitting it to the Mānoa Career Center before additional hires are approved.
Yes, you can hold multiple jobs as long as you do not exceed 20 hours per week for all jobs combined during the regular semester and 40 hours per week during the semester breaks. You must complete the by obtaining signatures from all your employers and submitting it to the Mānoa Career Center before additional hires are approved.
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When can I expect to receive my first paycheck?
Paychecks are generally issued by your employer 4 weeks after your first timesheet has been approved and submitted to payroll.
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When and where do I get my paychecks/pay stubs?
Your paychecks/pay stubs will be distributed to your employer from Payroll. Paydays are on the 5th and 20th of every month; if the payday falls on a weekend or holiday, paychecks will be issued on the working day prior to the 5th or 20th.
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How do I set up direct deposit for my wages?
You will need to complete the Salary Assignment/Cancellation (Form D-60) form in order to establish direct deposit for your wages. Your first paycheck will be a regular paycheck, but thereafter you may have your net wages or a portion of your wages automatically deposited into a checking or savings account. Work with your employer on completing the form and submitting it to the UH Payroll Office.
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When are timesheets due?
Timesheets are due on the 15th and 31st of each month. To view the schedule log in to sece and go to your “Timesheets” tab and click on “View Pay Period Schedule.”
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According to my timesheet, my appointment period has ended; what happens now?
Your employer should generate the payroll transaction to extend your appointment; let your employer know that this message has appeared on your timesheet. This message will not prevent this timesheet from being processed, but steps should be taken to resolve it as soon as possible.
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Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about my job?
We recommend that you initially consult with your supervisor or a representative from your place of employment; if your questions or concerns can’t be resolved at that level, you may contact the Mānoa Career Center for assistance.
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If I am graduating, when is the last day that I’m eligible to work?
The last day you would be eligible to work would be the day of commencement.
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How do I get my last paycheck/pay stub from employer?
Provide your employer with a permanent mailing address or forwarding address so that your final paycheck/pay stub can be mailed to you. This will also be important for your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement that is distributed at the end of January.
Still have questions?
Send an email to careers@hawaii.edu.