Hey, just wondering if anyone has had responses to any WORKSTUDY applications through OSCARplus?

More specifically, any lab/research related postings.

I applied to a few last month but only got a single response :(

Originally Posted by lockdown

Hey, just wondering if anyone has had responses to any WORKSTUDY applications through OSCARplus?

More specifically, any lab/research related postings.

I applied to a few last month but only got a single response :(

That's pretty normal. Most jobs listed on OSCAR get hundreds of applicants.

Yup, I understand it's very competitive. I was just hoping if anyone had experience in the past or received recent replies they could post in this topic.

Some postings expire next week. Would they normally shut down the posting if they don't want new applicants?

Originally Posted by lockdown

Yup, I understand it's very competitive. I was just hoping if anyone had experience in the past or received recent replies they could post in this topic.

Some postings expire next week. Would they normally shut down the posting if they don't want new applicants?

No, they don't usually shut them down.

It doesn't really matter whether or not other people got recent replies, unless you know exactly what jobs they applied to.

The one thing I don't like about oscar plus is that it does not update its server on whether the jobs are filed or not.

A lot of the times professors will fill their positions almost right away, and their application will stay up on the site till mid April or when ever its due. Which wastes a lot of time for the people applying as cover letters and resumes take time, effort and research to put together. I know profs that have already filled their positions (either because they found someone really good, or they only intended to hire their thesis/lab volunteer from the beginning) and their posting is still up. <-- I also think that profs that intend to do this (hire only their thesis/volunteer students) should indicate so on their post, I have seen one or two that have, but a lot don't. And I can tell you for certainty that there are several that have posts up simply due to technicalities sake.

I also think they should say when a position gets filled, if you haven't applied to it yet it should get taken down and if you have applied then they should tell you the position got filled. It wouldn't be too hard for them to put an option into the system for profs/employers to simply click "position filled" and the system auto emails/notifies the applicants. ( I know this is a petty rant, but I feel like job hunting is a stressful situation, especially when exams are right around the corner. Even a simply no/rejection is better IMO than the anxiety of waiting till the deadline to see if you get any interviews.)

end rant,..guess that was 2 things... sry

Originally Posted by Chevalier

The one thing I don't like about oscar plus is that it does not update its server on whether the jobs are filed or not.

A lot of the times professors will fill their positions almost right away, and their application will stay up on the site till mid April or when ever its due. Which wastes a lot of time for the people applying as cover letters and resumes take time, effort and research to put together. I know profs that have already filled their positions (either because they found someone really good, or they only intended to hire their thesis/lab volunteer from the beginning) and their posting is still up. <-- I also think that profs that intend to do this (hire only their thesis/volunteer students) should indicate so on their post, I have seen one or two that have, but a lot don't. And I can tell you for certainty that there are several that have posts up simply due to technicalities sake.

I also think they should say when a position gets filled, if you haven't applied to it yet it should get taken down and if you have applied then they should tell you the position got filled. It wouldn't be too hard for them to put an option into the system for profs/employers to simply click "position filled" and the system auto emails/notifies the applicants. ( I know this is a petty rant, but I feel like job hunting is a stressful situation, especially when exams are right around the corner. Even a simply no/rejection is better IMO than the anxiety of waiting till the deadline to see if you get any interviews.)

end rant,..guess that was 2 things... sry

I completley agree, I apply to tons of jobs and most of the time there is no response to the state of my applications, and if one was closed then I'd move on as opposed to wasting the limited time I have for applying

Wow, that's quite disappointing :(
Sucks they leave the postings online... takes me so long to make a single application.

And starfish, I was just curious on others' statuses since I don't know a single person who actually had any replies. Wasn't trying to scout the competition haha.

Originally Posted by lockdown

Wow, that's quite disappointing :(
Sucks they leave the postings online... takes me so long to make a single application.

And starfish, I was just curious on others' statuses since I don't know a single person who actually had any replies. Wasn't trying to scout the competition haha.

I didn't think you were trying to scout out the competition, I just meant that the postings are all independent of each other, not run by a specific person/group. So, just because people who applied to job posting X got a reply, that says nothing about whether or not someone who applied to posting Y will get a reply or should even expect one.

0 interviews. 2 summer job calls though

Originally Posted by Leeoku

0 interviews. 2 summer job calls though

whats the diff?

I got 2 calls back in April for an interview, and even a call in May when I already started my job. So don't lose hope yet! I've found with applying for jobs, perseverence is key!

Originally Posted by Chevalier

whats the diff?

0 for workstudy/coop. The summer jobs were the job postings in oscar and non coop related

The posting wouldn't be taken down because sometimes candidates don't work out and the employer can go back and review other application, or accept new applicants just in case. There's nothing usless about applying to something that could be filled.. you get better and faster at writing your applications.

I've only gone to 1 interview this semester out of 30 or so coop cl/applications, but I have high standards on what I want to apply to I don't bother with normal jobs or workstudy because they're either not interesting or pay way too low compared what I make now..

Just a tip for anybody using this system... make a tailored cover letter and resume change for every posting. Many people I've heard who have gone through the process didn't even bother to do more than submit their resume, have a generic cover letter, or only tailored it based on the position, not based on doing research on the company or re-doing resume per position..

Sometimes, depending on when you apply, you just may not have any chance -- applications are processed based on the time they're submitted (less chance the later you wait) .

I don't know about Workstudy since I'm not eligible, but if you're looking for co-op/summer positions, I've found that OSCARplus is almost useless. I've never gotten an interview for something I've applied to on it. I found my last 2 co-op positions on my own by just applying online. And I've now found an 8 month co-op on my own as well; had the first and second round interviews a couple of weeks ago and got the offer about last week.

I'd say your best bet at finding positions will be on your own; just keep searching companies' websites and apply to everything.

And as RyanC said above, try your best to tailor your cover letter to each specific company/position.

1 interview- prof gave preference to someone she taught before.