One of the questions we hear most often from college students using QuadJobs: I was hired for a job, but my employer hasn’t “awarded” me the job through the site. In other words, the student was hired off-line, but the employer never closed the loop by awarding that student the job posted. That means the job won’t appear on the student’s QuadJobs work record, and he or she won’t get credit for doing it. Bummer! And… great opportunity to learn a super valuable IRL skill.
It’s perfectly acceptable to text, email, or remind an employer in person to take this step on your behalf.
It can be as simple as this:
“Hey Katherine! I noticed you haven’t awarded me the job yet through the site. I know you’re busy, but it’d be great to show your job in my track record of work experience. Would you mind going to your job post and hitting the award button under my profile? Please let me know if you are unsure how to do that and I’m happy to help.”
If you’re hesitant to do this, let’s take a step back.
First of all, believe that you deserve it. It’s not asking too much. You were hired for a job. You worked hard (or you intend to when the job begins). You deserve to include that job on your QuadJobs resume. You’re asking your employer to do something that takes seconds to complete.
Secondly, view this as a low-stakes chance to build a muscle that that will serve you throughout your entire career. Learning to self-advocate in a professional and direct way will be critical to your success in any field. Inevitably, your future self will feel dissatisfied with some aspect of your job. When most people experience this, they rush to quit or just muddle through unhappily. Learning to stand up for what you deserve and communicate thoughtfully about ways a dynamic could be improved will lead you to a more fulfilling career. For many, self-advocating is a skill that takes practice. Asking an employer to hit award is an easy way to get that practice!
Finally, remember that what you’re doing matters. Every job counts. Our mission is to create as many part-time jobs, afternoon jobs, sideline jobs, summer jobs for college students as we can. We give you access to jobs that fit your ever-changing schedule, and we want you to get credit for each and every job you take. Nothing makes us happier than seeing you build a robust work record—one that will help you net more jobs through our site, and one that you can eventually take into interviews for jobs after graduation. We want this record to accurately and fully reflect your experience, your hustle, and how much your employers valued your performance.
If you’ve reached out to an employer, and followed up, and aren’t getting a response, feel free to reach out at [email protected] and we can discuss next steps.
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QuadJobs is an online platform connecting college and graduate students to local jobs. From Saturday night babysitting to moving a couch to helping a local business during a busy time, students find flexible jobs that fit into whatever free time they have. By streamlining the employment connection between campus and community, QuadJobs unlocks jobs particularly well-suited for students’ busy, often changing schedules. The platform tracks every job a student takes and gathers performance reviews. Small jobs matter—they help a student network, earn income, and build a track record of work experience. Local employers can hire with efficiency and confidence.