How To Support Employees Who Are In School

Hiring college students comes with a ton of benefits, including a willingness to learn, fresh skills, and the ability to work part-time. They have so much to offer your company, and it is crucial you offer them support and benefits in return. This will make their experience better and will help elevate you as an employer who values student employees.

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Provide training

One of the most incredible things about student workers is their ability and willingness to learn. They are in school because they love learning and want to improve their skills and minds. As such, provide training so they can continue up-leveling their skills and keep learning. This will motivate them to reach for higher positions within the company and beyond. Having training sessions where they can ask questions will allow them to feel supported and that their growth is important.

Flexible scheduling

Students are in school, so they likely have to attend classes, either in-person or online. For most students, their studies take priority, even over their jobs. As an employer, the most important thing you can do to support your students is to be mindful of their class schedule and allow them to build their work schedule around their course schedule. When they are hired, ask them what their availability is and be respectful by actually adhering to the availability.

Give frequent feedback

As mentioned above, students love learning. Besides training, one of the best ways they learn is through feedback, both good and bad. Praising your employees tells them what they are doing right and can help them feel appreciated. Constructive criticism helps them see areas for improvement and allows them to learn from mistakes. Students want to feel like they are good at what they do and that they are growing. Feedback will help them with both. They are learning and want to gain the knowledge of being in the field.

Set up mentoring

Another way to help students grow and learn is to offer mentoring. You can mentor student employees yourself, or you can match them up with other employees who have similar backgrounds. Be sure the employees are in positions that the student is aiming for so they can learn about their career trajectory. This will allow students to hear stories of how your employees got to where they are. Mentoring also gives your student employees a contact person to ask questions to and get to know on a more personal level.

Support them during finals

For students, final exams can be one of the most stressful times of the semester. They have big projects and exams that are a culmination of the work they did throughout the semester. This means they have additional studying to do and more projects to get done. Offer them treats or a care package. Even an encouraging note cheering them on can make a huge difference. Be flexible as they navigate the stress and offer support. Anything you can do to help them through is appreciated and incredible.

Encourage networking

Getting to know coworkers is a great way to support student employees and make the workplace a positive place for everyone. Host at least one networking event monthly and encourage student employees to attend. Events can be anything from happy hours to escape rooms. Doing something away from the office is preferred as it gets employees in a more relaxed environment. These events allow students and other employees to get to know each other better and build relationships they otherwise would not be able to. While your student employees may not get along with everyone, finding more people to connect with will help them learn new roles and skills and make the workplace more connected.

Keep communication open

Students need open communication with managers and other higher-ups in the company. Allow them to come to you with any questions or concerns they might have. Also, if they provide feedback on anything, listen to them and implement anything you can to help their experience in your company be a positive one. All employees want to be listened to, but it is especially important for student employees who need to feel heard and validated at work.

Explore their interests

Nothing feels worse to a student employee than wanting to learn a new skill or explore an interest within a company but being unable to lean into these things. Instead, ask them what they want to do and what their goals are. If they are keeping up with their current responsibilities, arrange for them to explore new skills, responsibilities, and interests within the company. This will motivate them to continue learning and leave them feeling seen and heard. It also gives them to stay with the company longer since they are constantly growing and trying new things, which keeps things interesting.

Supporting employees who are in school helps them know that you truly care about them and they are not merely another person.