With hundreds of students vying for campus employment positions, many wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. The excitement or anxiety of submitting applications for various roles can sometimes blind students to what comes after landing a position. To provide a clearer picture, Jazmaine Simbulan, a research assistant for the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), and Mosab Alony, a research assistant for Professor Jeremy Koons, shared their day-to-day experiences.
When asked about their respective roles, Jazmaine and Mosab shared differing duties. Jazmaine’s position at CIRS involves a mix of research and administrative support. “I do background research and annotated bibliographies,” she said, “but I sometimes do administrative work, like taking phone calls for the center.” In contrast, Mosab’s primary role focuses on transcription and accuracy checks. “My primary job is to collect a whole box of transcripts online, listen to audio files, and correct any mistakes in the transcript,” he said.
When further asked about their schedules, it is noted that it also highlights the differences in their employment structures. Jazmaine follows a conventional setup. “Generally, I work 2 to 4 hours a day, except for Thursdays, when I work the whole day because my schedule is free,” she said. “From Sunday to Wednesday, I work between my classes, and my lunch hours are always free so that I can attend campus events most of the time.” Mosab’s role, however, allows for more flexibility, without the need for a fixed office space. “I work 20 hours every week and get to choose my schedule,” he said. “I find it very satisfactory because I can base my hours on what I want. Also, the nature of the work allows me to be flexible with my location as well so I don’t have to go to an office for work. I can sit in the atrium for instance, or I can sit at home and do my work.”
Both Jazmaine and Mosab share the sentiment of finding comfort in their work environments due to positive relationships with their employers and colleagues. Jazmaine appreciates the empowerment she feels from her all-women-led team. “CIRS is fully led by women, even the research assistants,” she said. “I feel seen and heard by my employers and supervisors. They empower me because I see them working on these big projects and collaborations. My fellow student assistants and I also support each other with administrative tasks, though our research assignments are more individual.”
Mosab, when asked, mainly described his employer, Professor Jeremy Koons, as understanding and communicative. “He’s an amazing employer,” Mosab said. “We constantly email, which provides a direct line of communication. He’s very understanding of my obligations as a student and sets realistic expectations.” He also detailed his journey into the role, emphasizing the importance of tailoring applications. “The CV I sent highlighted my experience with transcription,” he said. “The interview was simple; he asked about my past experience and whether the hours would work for me. I wasn’t accepted at first because another candidate had more experience as a research assistant. Later, I got a callback when the position reopened and was offered the job. Officially, I was employed by May but didn’t start working until June.”
Balancing work and academics posed challenges for both. Jazmaine emphasized the difficulty of maintaining boundaries. “One struggle was separating my work hours from academic hours,” she said. “I found myself taking work home, thinking I had to do it because I was pressuring myself. I learned to strictly separate work and academics. My supervisors also emphasize prioritizing studies over work.” For Mosab though, the flexibility of his role minimizes challenges. “Any issues I’ve faced are due to my personal choices,” he noted. “For instance, I may forget to do certain assignments and have them start piling up with my job. But nothing is overwhelming just because it's so flexible. There are also no pressing deadlines, but obviously, there are reasonable expectations.”
With the competitive market of student employment in Georgetown, it is helpful to know the experiences of currently employed students and have these insights. In closing, Jazmaine and Mosab offered advice for students seeking employment on campus. “I think the one thing that I can say is try to apply to as many as you can and show your best self, show that you’re capable, but don't pressure yourself too much. Because that’s what I did when I was a freshman when I was trying to apply to everything, and kept getting rejected,” Jazmaine shares, “And when it comes to interviews, remember that you don’t need to act like you know everything.”
Mosab, on the other hand, stressed the importance of building experience early. “Before applying for formal positions, gain experience in informal roles,” he said. “For example, apply for a position with the campus gazette and list it on your CV. Don’t fear rejection; use it as a learning experience to identify your weaknesses. When you’re interviewed, don’t give a full life story. Focus on what you’ve done in the past, what you’re doing now, and what you plan to do in the future. That’s the formula,” Mosab added, giving us his personal anecdote of success.
With the testimonies of these two students in mind, it is not farfetched to describe student employment in GU-Q as competitive and challenging, while also extremely rewarding and caring. With the nerves or excitement of submitting the requirements for different positions, all the students who plan to take on this endeavor should heed the words of Jazmaine Simbulan and Mosab Alony. In the long run, hopefully each student can find the answer to the question, “Is the grass greener on the other side?”
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