Student Employment
Connecting students to professional, on-campus employment opportunities.
We empower you to enter the workforce by preparing you as a student employee. As a student employee, you will:
- Search for and apply to open on-campus opportunities through Handshake
- Interview with a hiring supervisor
- Communicate with your supervisor about a schedule and work responsibilities
- Participate in professional development training
- Enhance the skills relevant to your position through LinkedIn Learning courses
Hiring Paperwork & Forms
Make an appointment through Handshake to visit the Office of Student Employment. Your identification MUST be verified in person.
- Before arriving for your appointment, you will need to print out and complete the following forms.
- Fill out all forms listed below in advance of your appointment with the Office of Student Employment.
- Bring the required original forms of identification (a picture will NOT work) for the Form I-9.
All forms listed below are REQUIRED to process your paperwork for hiring and payment:
Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification
Complete Page 1 Section 1 – don’t forget to sign and date.Form W-4: Employee’s Withholding Certificate
Merrimack uses this form to calculate the Federal income tax you owe each pay period. If you need help with this form, you may contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov.Form M-4: Massachusetts Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate
Merrimack uses this form to calculate the State income tax you owe each pay period. If you need help with this form, you may contact the Mass. Department of Revenue at 1-800-392-6089 or 1-617-887-6367.Form ACA/403b
Merrimack uses this form to acknowledge that you received information on the Affordable Care Act and the 403b Retirement plan.
At your appointment, we will ask for:
- The five completed and signed documents
- Your Social Security Number
- Document(s) that confirm both your identity and your right to work in the U.S.
- A list of acceptable documents is on page 2 of the Form I-9. Please bring EITHER:
- one document from List A OR
- one document from List B AND one document from List C
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find on-campus employment?
All on-campus employment positions are posted on Handshake. You will not be able to view or apply for on-campus employment without a Handshake account.
- Go to merrimack.edu/handshake
- Click on the box ‘Merrimack College Sign On’
- Log-in with your Merrimack username and password
- Complete your profile to personalize your job feed (required one-time only)
- Start searching for jobs
- Select “Job” in the top bar
- Under Job Search click “On-campus” filter
- Keep applying until you are contacted for an interview
Need help? Check out these Handshake how-to guides and video resources for more information:
How to Search for On-Campus Jobs
How to Save Searches & Get Job Alerts
How does the hiring process work?
Your hiring supervisor will ask you for your student ID number to confirm your eligibility to work. The Office of Student Employment will notify you when that process is complete. If needed the Office of Student Employment will email you to have you submit the necessary employment forms required to work. Forms and identification must be submitted in person.
What is an offer letter?
The Offer Letter is signed by you, your supervisor, the Office of Student Employment, and the Payroll Office. The Offer Letter includes your job description, your pay rate, requirements to abide by professional standards, and information about the requirement to attend professional development training and specific skills courses on LinkedIn Learning. Signing this letter means that you agree to abide by these terms and is the only way to ensure you will get paid for your work. If you don’t have an offer letter – you don’t have a job!
If you are new to on-campus employment or have not worked at Merrimack in the last three years, you will receive and sign your Offer Letter when you submit your hiring paperwork. If you are returning to on-campus employment, you will receive your Offer Letter once you have been verified as eligible to work.
Do I need to reapply to my job if I am going back to the same one?
Yes, you must reapply through Handshake each year and provide your student ID number to your hiring supervisor to verify your eligibility to work. You will receive an email from the Office of Student Employment – before you are officially authorized to work. However, you DO NOT have to complete the payroll employment forms if you have been employed at Merrimack within the last 3 years.
When can I start working?
Your start date should be a mutual agreement between you and your supervisor. You CANNOT begin working until you have received an email confirmation from the Office of Student Employment. You are not authorized to work until you have submitted a completed all hiring paperwork with the correct requested identification.
How many hours can I work?
This varies based on your job description and position. Please discuss this with your supervisor, who will also work with you to schedule the hours that you work.
How will I track and submit my time?
Each department has a process for time tracking and submission. Please discuss this process with your supervisor. You must follow this process to get paid for hours that you work.
How do I get paid?
You must complete a direct deposit form as part of your employment paperwork. Each department has a process for time tracking and submission. Please discuss this process with your supervisor. You must follow this process to get paid for the hours that you work. A pay schedule with payroll deadlines can be found on the MyMack Payroll Page (note: this requires Merrimack credentials to login).
What is the required professional development and LinkedIn Learning training? When do I complete it?
The Office of Student Employment will provide multiple opportunities during the semester for you to attend professional development training covering such topics as LinkedIn, resumes, mock and informational interviews, professionalism, among others. You will also be required to complete courses through LinkedIn Learning to develop skills specific to your current position as a student employee. These training sessions are required and are designed to help you excel in your current position while developing the skills necessary to secure and succeed in future internships, co-ops, and full-time employment. Your supervisor and the Office of Student Employment will provide more information about these sessions in the first month of the semester.