Handshake Information

Handshake is your one-stop for finding part-time jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships, and full-time career opportunities. Log into Handshake with your Loper email address and password. We recommend that when you first use Handshake, take some time to fill out your profile and upload your resume. This will help Handshake find the jobs that are the best fit for you.

Search for positions on Handshake

Handshake How-To

For more information on how to use Handshake, watch our Handshake How-To video here.

Fall Semester Part-Time Job Fair

Are you interested in a part-time job while you are at UNK? Join us for the Part-Time Job Fair on September 5, 2023 from 1:00PM - 3:00PM in the Ponderosa Room (Student Union). There will be employers looking to hire students for on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs, and work-study jobs. Create a Handshake account and fill in your information so that you will be ready to apply for jobs that interest you at the fair. Sign up for text messages in your MyBLUE for notifications of the job fair and your work-study eligibility. For more information, contact Student Employment Services at (303)-865-8520 or sesacct@unk.edu.

Disclaimers for Students

All hiring and compensation for work performed by student employees is handled directly between the student and the employer. SES does not perform background checks on students applying for jobs, nor on employers posting job opportunities. Employers and students are encouraged to request reference information from each other as needed to establish qualifications, credentials, and overall fit. Use of this job posting website is entirely at the risk of the user. UNK expressly disclaims any and all liability with regards to usage of this site. 

Warning: Fraudulent Job Postings Exist
Student Employment Services strongly encourages students to research before applying for/accepting a position. See Handshake's Tips on Spotting Fraudulent Employers.

Employment on UNK's campus is sometimes in the form of "Work-Study" Employment. If you have filled out your FAFSA and are eligible for work-study, you will see it listed on your financial aid offer. You can also see if you have been offered work-study by going to Accept/Decline Offers under the Financial Aid tab in your MyBLUE. You must accept your work-study funding to be eligible for work-study jobs. Be sure to add the “Work-Study” filter when searching for work-study jobs on Handshake.

Search For Positions On Handshake

What is Work-Study Employment?

If a student displays a specific amount of financial need on their FAFSA, the federal government offers them aid in the form of Work-Study employment. Federal Work Study (FWS) provides employment opportunities on and off campus. This aid does not distribute directly to a student immediately; it is redeemable through obtaining a Work-Study position. Just like any other part-time positions, students must apply, interview, and be offered work-study jobs. Money earned through the work-study position will not be credited towards UNK balances; instead, students will receive the money directly in the form of paychecks to be used at their discretion.

Through the Work-Study program, the federal government agrees to pay three-fourths of the wages for a student in any Work-Study position they obtain. The employer pays the remaining one-fourth of the student's wages. This makes it easier for Kearney employers to provide jobs for students in need of part-time employment.

How do I get Work-Study Employment?

Work-study funding is offered to students whose financial need qualifies them for the work-study program. In order to potentially receive work-study funding, you must submit your FAFSA. If you are eligible for work-study and there is still work-study funding available, you will be offered work-study on your financial aid offer and on MyBLUE.

What do I do if I've been offered Work-Study Funding?

If you’ve been offered work-study funding, you will see the offer on your financial aid offer and on your MyBLUE. If you decide that you want the work-study funding, here are the steps you will need to follow:

  1. Accept the work-study funding on your MyBLUE. To accept your work-study funding, log into your MyBLUE and click on the Financial Aid tab. Then click on Accept/Decline Offers and accept the work-study funding. We always suggest that even if students aren’t sure if they want a work-study position or not, they accept the funding anyways. You will not receive the funding until you secure a work-study position, so any unused funds will be re-allocated to other work-study students. Work-study funds are limited, so if you decline your work-study funding, you will not be able to get it back until you are eligible again the following year.
  2. Search for work-study positions on Handshake. You will not receive your work-study funding until you have secured a work-study position. This means that you must search for, apply, interview, and be offered a work-study job just like any other job. To search for work-study positions, go to Handshake and set up an account. On the Jobs page, use the filter tool to filter only work-study positions.
  3. Set up direct deposit. Work-study funding is given as a regular work paycheck given for hours worked. Work-study funding is not applied directly to your UNK bill, instead is given to you to be used for discretionary college expenses. Setting up direct deposit allows your work-study paychecks to easily be deposited into your bank account.
  4. Fill out your FAFSA annually. It is important to fill out your FAFSA annually so that you can be offered work-study (if eligible) and continue working your work-study job. If you do not fill out your FAFSA at all you will not receive work-study. If you fill out your FAFSA at a later date, there is a chance that the work-study funds will run out and you will not be offered work-study.

Questions About Work-Study?

Visit our Work-Study FAQs or contact UNK's Work-Study Coordinator Anna Gettinger for more information about Federal Work-Study and your eligibility for this type of financial aid.

Join Handshake to Post Your Listings

SES advertises part-time, seasonal, and Work-Study opportunities available in the Kearney community. Posting a position with us is a FREE service. An employer may create their own Handshake account and post their own listing, however; all part-time job postings will be reviewed and approved by SES or Career Services before they are listed on Handshake. No matter the size of your business, we strongly suggest that employers create their own Handshake account to post their open positions and communicate with any interested applicants with ease. If you do not think this option will work for you, please email sesacct@unk.edu.Join Handshake

On-Campus and Non-Profit Employers

If you are a department on UNK's campus or a non-profit within the Kearney community seeking student employees, you may be eligible to hire students with Federal Work-Study aid. Contact our Work-Study Coordinator Anna Gettinger for more information on the process. 

Disclaimers for Employers

All job listings are posted at the discretion of SES. All posted non-commission positions are required to post an hourly wage or salary equal to or greater than the federal minimum wage. We will not post jobs that appear to discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, disabled or veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, and genetic information. SES also reserves the right to refuse to post jobs that do not support the interests of the University. SES provides a referral service and makes no particular recommendations regarding employers. We make no representations or guarantees about positions posted by this office. We are not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or any other aspect of off-campus employment. Students are urged to perform due diligence in researching employers when applying for or accepting private off-campus employment. While jobs posted on Handshake through our services are intended to reach college students, employers must expect that jobs may be viewed by the general public.