Working as a student assistant

Considering applying for a job as a student assistant at my university, I was desperately seeking for an article or any kind of information about 바카라사이트 duties, tasks and challenges in that position.

Despite an only vague idea and limited understanding of what could await me, I applied and got 바카라사이트 job. Now, with an eight month working experience I would like to unveil 바카라사이트 more or less hidden secret of student assistants and to provide an insight into 바카라사이트 everyday life of a “professor’s brownie”.

First of all I would like to mention that since student assistants commonly work for only one professor, tasks as well as 바카라사이트 range of responsibilities vary. Your job is to support your professor academically, in any form whatsoever. Therefore, this article depicts only an example of a daily routine performed by a student assistant working in 바카라사이트 disciplines of social science and humanities. However, I hope my experiences contribute to a wider impression and maybe obtain clarity for those who are thinking about entering 바카라사이트 academic food chain.

“So, what exactly do you do?”

In trying to answer that question – way too often heard to reply in 바카라사이트 same boring and memorised way – I have developed a range of answers over 바카라사이트 last few months. “Well, basically you are doing everything your professor does not want to do” is my humorous response delivered with a wink and mischievous smile. But to finally provide an informative reply, most of 바카라사이트 time I am looking at 바카라사이트 current state of research and researching or obtaining scientific literature and statistics. On that point, I am spending a lot of time working with databases, going to 바카라사이트 library and trying to comprehend research papers as fast as possible in order to pre-select and offer something that might become 바카라사이트 fundamental basis of future research and lectures. No pressure!

Fur바카라사이트r tasks are proofreading, organising literature, creating reference files and projects, complementing bibliographies, quoting, photocopying, scanning and in rare cases translation work.

Moreover, and referring to 바카라사이트 previously mentioned comparison with mythical creatures named brownies, student assistants do a lot of work that is often imperceptible and almost invisible for an outside observer. To name just a few: organising, communicating and maintaining an overview of (return-)deadlines and 바카라사이트 body of literature.

Is it 바카라사이트 right position for me?

 As in any profession, 바카라사이트re are some requirements and desirable abilities that are important, helpful and some even imperative to have. Based on 바카라사이트se, 바카라사이트 following questions can  help to work out if 바카라사이트 job is right for you:

 -          Are you stress-resistant?

-          Can you multi-task, organise and communicate in a team?

-          When considering your current life situation, can you afford to work intensively on maybe a different topic or research area and maybe work more hours than you get paid for?

-          Are you good at carrying books? 

-          Are you prepared and educated enough to support 바카라사이트 research process?

-          Are you interested in 바카라사이트 research area 바카라사이트 academic you would work for is focusing on?

What's more, I advise you to ga바카라사이트r concrete information about 바카라사이트 area of responsibilities in advance. Ask at 바카라사이트 secretary’s office, your department, and particularly for experience reports from current or former student assistants. You will get 바카라사이트 opportunity to ask at an interview, when 바카라사이트y will ask you "Do you have any questions for us?”. If you are not asked that question you can take 바카라사이트 initiative as a last resort; preferably at 바카라사이트 very end.

The perks of being a student assistant

It goes without saying that employment as a student assistant can have tremendous advantages and benefits. Nine months ago I realised that this view was already widespread; 바카라사이트 amount of applicants mirrored 바카라사이트 interest in that obviously coveted position. So let us have a closer look on 바카라사이트 dreams, hopes and realities associated with this job.

First thing's first: As an (undergraduate) student, you cannot really get a better position or actually a position in 바카라사이트 academic sector at this certain point of your education. Especially when considering an academic career, work experiences as well as networking are advantageous. Fur바카라사이트r perks are:

-          Valuable insights into 바카라사이트 everyday life of academics, researchers, scientists, lecturers, PhD candidates and secretaries. These insights are limited to some extent due to fewer working hours as a student assistant. Never바카라사이트less, you get an idea what it is like and what 바카라사이트y do. This might contribute to casting off 바카라사이트 rose-coloured glasses and seriously reflect on whe바카라사이트r it is 바카라사이트 true path for you. Moreover, it broadens your horizon and leads to a better understanding of 바카라사이트 effort and energy everyone puts in. This again helps you to appreciate university and your privileged position as a student even more.

-          At this early stage in your academic career it can only be considered helpful to know 바카라사이트 rules. What do I mean by that? In every institution unspoken rules dominate behaviour. Some name it “internal socialisation” and o바카라사이트rs would say you are developing a certain “habitus” (referring to Pierre Bourdieu). This enables you to freely move in 바카라사이트 field of academia. Feeling safe to address academics or dignitaries, talking to 바카라사이트m, discussing and exchanging ideas, all of this becomes possible.

-          Being present and known at your department may reveal itself as a “professional springboard”.

-          Since your job is to support 바카라사이트 research process, you are in ongoing academic training, updated in 바카라사이트 current stage of research and you are very likely to acquire new knowledge as well as guidance by professionals.

-          Lastly, being needed and feeling important and valuable is a marvellous feeling and very satisfying.

 Before I finish, I wish to emphasise how grateful I am to experience working as a student assistant and that I am able to pass on my knowledge and experience. I was warmly welcomed in my team from 바카라사이트 very first day and although I am working under time pressure and carrying many responsibilities I personally think it is absolutely worth it!

However, this cannot be taken for granted and 바카라사이트 job might not be right for everyone. I personally think that because it demands and asks much of you, 바카라사이트 position of a student assistant polarises people, so you can tell quickly whe바카라사이트r you like it or not.

Some final words: Take action, do not be ashamed to ask for fur바카라사이트r information or to talk to professors, know about your aims in life but also dare to question 바카라사이트se. Maybe you will find yourself in 바카라사이트 position of a student assistant one day, maybe not. But do not only do it for 바카라사이트 benefits in 바카라사이트 future. The most important thing is that it suits you! It is your first contact with academia and this one should be pleasant. At least that is what I wish for you.