Rodney Hoffman (rodney@oxy.edu)
JPL is the NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the lead NASA center for interplanetary spacecraft and robotic space exploration. JPL is not far from Oxy: maps and directions. If you're in the area, don't miss the next JPL Open House, May 3 and 4, 2008.
APTs can work up to 30 hours per week during the school year and full-time during summer and breaks. The pay is calculated based on your year in school and your G.P.A., and is typically over $10 / hour for juniors and seniors.
Many projects at JPL have some funds for hiring APTs. JPL is a big place, around 6,000 people, and there are all types of jobs: computer-related, astronomy, physics, engineering, technical writing, etc.
JPL managers want students who can work enough hours per week to make it worthwhile for JPL. But Oxy students are all full-time students, and it's tough to work even 10 hours per week off-campus, let alone 15 or more. This is the biggest problem I have: finding qualified students who have enough hours to spare.
Before you apply for an APT job, you should have a firm idea about how many hours per week you can work.
While there are summer-only jobs, they are fewer. Most managers naturally prefer someone who can continue to work during the school year as well.
For more information, check the JPL Student Employment web page.
JPL managers who decide to hire APTs usually find appropriate candidates by asking the JPL Staffing Office and by asking friends and co-workers who know students.
So you need to have your résumé in the JPL Staffing Office, and in the hands of folks like me who might get asked for candidates.
Because my co-workers at JPL know that I teach at Oxy, they will often ask me for APT candidates. I try to keep current résumés on hand, so I can give them to anyone who asks. I hand them out based on which students have the skills for the particular job.
Sometimes months go by without anyone asking me for APTs. Other times, several people at once are looking and come to me. It's impossible to predict.
Of course, because I work in a computer-related JPL job, most of the people around me at JPL are looking for computer programmers, computer system administrators, etc. This means that if you're a Physics major, say, who is not particularly interested in a computer job, there might be plenty of APT openings for you, but I'm not likely to hear about them or be asked for candidates.
Whatever your field, however, I can help review your résumé.
4. What job openings I know about right now
Nothing right now.
Bring a rough copy of your résumé and come see me.
If you're looking for computer programming work, I strongly recommend that you have completed at least our Computer Science 211 or equivalent.
Start early! It can take weeks from the time a manager decides to hire you until you can begin! Also, summer jobs are generally filled before our Spring Break!
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