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Two HFS students pose, smiling through their masks

Housing and Food Services offers competitive job opportunities

With a plethora of opportunities, job-seeking students across the commonwealth may find their perfect fit within Penn State’s Housing and Food Services (HFS).

Offering flexible scheduling and convenient work locations with a $12 starting hourly pay rate, HFS not only provides jobs but long-term career growth. Student employees can build valuable skills to add to their resumes by various leveling opportunities for student management and leadership roles.

Student leadership positions teach proficiencies like time management, networking, communication, working in diverse groups, attention to detail, and organization. HFS also offers career events, such as headshot sessions for LinkedIn profiles and meetings with the Career Services team.

Ally Kephart, a fourth-year student studying supply chain and information systems, works as a student office manager for the West Food District. As a student office manager, Kephart is a liaison between student employees and management by scheduling student employees, coordinating new student orientations, and organizing communications to student employees.

Alongside her administrative duties, Kephart works with managers and administrative assistants to support student employees and keep the West Food District operating smoothly.

Kephart expressed that working with HFS “is one of the best student employment opportunities through Penn State.”

“I started working with HFS because it offered flexible scheduling, a high starting pay, several growth opportunities and the West Food District is conveniently located on campus,” said Kephart. “I have made some of my best friends through working with HFS and made lasting connections with other students, employees, and managers. I think I gained effective career skills like communication, organization, leadership, and management through my role.”

Alongside career growth opportunities, HFS offers unique social opportunities to its employees. HFS coordinates activities planned outside work hours to meet others and build teams. Upcoming activities for the teams include attending the Penn State Center for Arts and Crafts and going to Penn State sporting events. In the past, HFS has offered cooking classes for cookie decorating and sushi rolling.

Amber Sharkawy, a data analyst for HFS, encourages students across the commonwealth who are seeking campus employment to consider working with HFS.

“I think the biggest draw for HFS is that we are a community within a community,” said Sharkawy. “When I was an undergraduate student, an aspect of working with HFS that struck me was that I was treated like an individual with my own goals and ambitions. I felt like they invested in me, and I learned so much, which I think lends a hand in my current role with the University. I didn’t take the job when I was a student thinking that I’d learn these skills, but I am so grateful that I did.”

Sharkawy shared that students should reach out if they have any specific interests or want to learn more about working in HFS.

“Our managers would be happy to talk to them or give more information,” said Sharkawy.

All open positions are posted on the HFS student employment page.