By Gemma Mchugh, September 22, 2026
For Cal Poly Pomona students seeking on-campus employment, an available position does not always mean an accessible opportunity. High applicant numbers, position requirements and limited awareness of where to find openings can make securing a campus job difficult.
CPP needs to make student employment opportunities more visible and accessible, but students also need to take greater responsibility for making themselves competitive applicants. Using resources such as the Career Center, tailoring resumes and cover letters to individual positions, connecting directly with campus departments and speaking with potential employers in person can help students distinguish themselves from a crowded applicant pool.
CPP student Guy Rousseau is a recruitment assistant at the human resources office and said he does not believe CPP has a shortage of on-campus jobs. Instead, he said the difficulty may come from the amount of competition surrounding the positions students find most desirable.
According to Rousseau, one operations position at the Bronco Student Center received more than 120 applicants, while many positions at the Bronco Recreational and Intramural Complex averaged more than 60 applicants. He identified the BRIC and BSC as some of the more popular places for students seeking employment.
When 60 or even 120 students are competing for a position, applicants need to give employers a reason to remember them.
Students should treat an on-campus application with the same effort they would give an internship or job after graduation. A generic resume sent to every opening may be convenient, but tailoring experience and skills to the position can make an applicant stand out more to an employer.
Rousseau said students should make sure they actually meet the criteria of the positions they apply for. For example, a student applying for an accounts payable position should have relevant business or accounting experience, while certain BRIC positions may favor applicants with fitness experience or proper certifications.
Rousseau said there are also less sought-after positions students may overlook, including audiovisual technicians, classroom assistants and photographers.
Students should be willing to broaden their searches and consider positions outside their first choices. A less competitive position can still provide income, references, connections and professional experience leading to future opportunities.
Students applying repeatedly without hearing back can also use the Career Center for assistance with resumes and cover letters, Rousseau said.
Jade Garcia, a business student and former Career Center employee, said one of the primary challenges she observed among students was developing an effective resume.
Garcia said students who need help with their resumes can meet individually with Career Center staff to review their materials and identify areas for improvement. During these sessions, students can receive feedback on how they present their skills, experience, and qualifications to employers.
However, improving a resume is only part of becoming a competitive candidate. Students should also make an effort to build connections beyond an online application. Career fairs, campus events and conversations with department heads can give students opportunities to introduce themselves to potential employers and learn what they are looking for in an applicant.
There is a difference between submitting applications and actively searching for employment. Walking into an office and demanding an interview is not the answer, but professionally introducing yourself, asking about opportunities and building relationships can make a name on a resume more recognizable. Networking does not guarantee a job, but learning how to communicate with employers and advocate for yourself can help students stand out while building skills they will need beyond college.
Ty Miller, a computer information systems student, recently applied for two campus positions related to his field, including a cybersecurity lab student assistant and a student technology ambassador.
After submitting the applications, Miller visited the Career Center to seek help improving his resume.
“I’m not sure what a good resume looks like,” Miller said. “So that’s kind of why I’m here today.”
Miller said he believes CPP does a good job providing employment assistance, but there is a limit to what the university can do for an individual applicant.
“The student has to go out of their way to apply, seek help and improve their skillset to make a valuable applicant,” Miller said.
Students have a responsibility to make themselves competitive applicants, but CPP also has a responsibility to make employment opportunities easy to find and resources easy to access. Campus employment gives students a chance to practice a process they will encounter again after graduation.
However, the competition will not disappear once students earn their degrees. Graduates will still have to tailor resumes, communicate their experience, network, prepare for interviews and distinguish themselves from other qualified applicants.