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Hiring Information

CONTACT, HOURS & APPOINTMENTS

 

 

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We Are Now Hiring For The 2024-2025 Academic Year!

Looking for a great opportunity to help others, use your writing skills, and build your résumé? Consider working at the MiraCosta Writing Center! Applications for employment during the 2024-2025 academic year are due May 5, 2024!

If you've completed English 100 or an equivalent class with an A or B and you are interested in applying to be a writing consultant, please complete the Application for The Learning Centers (available online only). In the application, you'll also be asked to do the following: 

  • Upload a writing sample that you feel features some of your best work. Your sample should be 3 or more pages of your writing from any college course. 
  • Answer two short reflection questions on your writing sample.
  • Upload your unofficial transcripts.

Ready? Fill Out The Application

If you have any questions about our consultant position, feel free to read through our FAQs below. You can also contact the Learning Centers staff if you have further questions or need assistance filling out the form at tlc@miracosta.edu or stop by the Writing Center at any campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are our most common questions applicants have about working for us:

Why work for the MiraCosta Writing Center?
Writing consultants enjoy the convenience this job provides as they have opportunities to work online as well as on any MiraCosta campus. Students can work before, after, and between classes. Additionally, many of our consultants enjoy the opportunity to work with a diverse group of co-workers, students, and faculty
Are there opportunities for career or personal growth?
Absolutely. Writing consultants work closely with faculty inside classrooms and attend, or present at, conference workshops for the Spring Southern California Writing Centers Association Conference. Many consultants have developed lasting relationships with staff and instructors, creating professional networks that last beyond their work here at MiraCosta. Plus it’s great on a résumé.
Who is eligible to work at the Writing Center?

Anyone who has completed English 100 or the equivalent with an A or B is eligible to work at the Writing Center.

What do writing consultants do?
Writing Consultants work with students in one-to-one sessions and support students inside writing classrooms. We try to match our staff with their interests and provide opportunities to give them a diverse work experience. Primarily, writing consultants talk with students about their ideas, organization, and writing skills. We’re not editors; our primary goal is to help students develop as writers. Some consultants also work with communication, reading strategies, and personal statements for transfer and scholarship applications. We pride ourselves on being friendly, helpful, and approachable.
Can I be a writing consultant if I’m not an English or Literature major?
Yes! Some of our best writing consultants are pursuing degrees in a number of other disciplines. Our writing consultants are trained to work with all student writers, regardless of what course they’re seeking assistance with.
Do you expect me to know everything about writing?
Not at all. We expect you to be comfortable working with student writers, but we don’t expect you to know everything about writing or English. Even our most experienced writing consultants still ask each other about ways to work with writing. We provide training to help you learn your role and where to find resources to assist you in sessions. The important thing is that you’re willing to work collaboratively with a student to find ways of improving the paper they are working on while they also learn to be stronger, more confident thinkers and writers.
Can I be a writing consultant if English isn’t my first language?
Absolutely. Many of our writing consultants speak other languages or have learned English as an additional language. It's a benefit to know multiple languages when working with writers.
How will I learn to be a writing consultant?

All consultants attend training. We have mandatory training for new consultants in August before the fall semester. Because this training cannot be reproduced, if you’re unable to attend the August New Consultant training, you cannot be hired as a consultant. Consultants also attend shorter trainings throughout each semester. All training work is paid, and we fit the semester trainings around your schedule.

How many hours will I be scheduled?

Your scheduled hours are determined by your availability, preferences, and the assignments we need to fill. Most of our employees end up working around 6-15 hours a week in a variety of settings. We do have employees that work beyond that range, but typically we find that 6-15 hours allows our employees to comfortably balance their work here with their own class load and other obligations. 

 

Will I be paid? What about time off?
Yes, this is paid work. The hourly rate starts at $16/hour with increases determined by HR. Consultants are able to request time off with advance notice and begin to accrue paid sick leave hours after their first three months of work with us.
Is the work steady?
Your schedule is stable during Fall & Spring semesters. But work is not entirely steady throughout the year as there are several gaps of time when the Writing Center is closed. Writing Consultants begin working the second week of each semester and work through finals week. The Writing Center is closed between semesters and on holidays.
Where are you located?
Our Writing Center Supervisor's office is at the Oceanside Writing Center, temporarily located in Building 1000. However, we have Writing Center spaces on all three MiraCosta campuses. We also work online through Zoom.
How can I prepare for the interview?
If you are chosen for an interview, we highly encourage you to bring in a paper for writing feedback. You can also visit the Writing Center and ask our front desk staff if you can observe a session in order to prepare. We find our applicants who have a sense of the Writing Center process often have an advantage with interview activities
Still have questions?
Call us at 760.795.6861 with your questions, check out our website at www.miracosta.edu/wc or pop into the Writing Center at Oceanside to find out more about us! You can also email: tlc@miracosta.edu