In response to the recent work-study budget cuts, Point Park University’s Office of Career Development wants to remind students they have many options still available to help them find a part-time job or internship.  Recently, the offices created a directory of local employers.  These “hot spots”  show students what off-campus positions are hiring, where they are located and how students can travel there.  A variety of part time, seasonal and temporary positions are currently available including retail associates, kennel assistants and tutors.  Amy Bittner, career counselor, armed with only a smile and some pamphlets, attended the United Student Government’s (USG) Feb. 28 Legislative Body meeting and discussed the many services students can use to help find gainful employment.  “We help with all aspects of career planning and placement,” Bittner said before USG members.  The Office of Career Development helps students from the very beginning, from selecting a major to switching majors.  The center also helps with selecting internships, graduate school selections, job shadowing, mock interviews, networking skills and works with students to develop their resumes, Bittner said. “We want to help students look for jobs,” Bittner said.  Last semester, 200 students used the office facilities on the seventh floor of the Student Center, but according to Bittner, that does not include those who used the website or attended job fairs. Recently, the Office of Career Development has expanded.  It now has four part-time counselors available and one full-time assistant coordinator to help students find jobs and internships that fit their wants and needs, Bittner said. “Soon, we’ll have school assignments and have one counselor for each school, which will help build relationships,” Bittner said.The Federal work-study program was created in 1964 as a way of providing need-based part-time employment for students without interfering with their academics.  Problems arose in the fall regarding the funds and human resources had to discuss how the remaining funds could be managed for the spring semester, according to a letter written by Danielle Conway and Laura Moad of the Human Resources Department to The Globe.  The full letter can be read on page six. For human resources, the reduction is not ideal. With these budget cuts, more students were in need of appointments with Career Development, more than what is typical for spring semester, Bittner said. However, she does not know how these cuts will affect their overall numbers.  For senior Veronika Panagiotou the budget cuts just mean she has to tighten her purse strings. “I just need to make sure the essentials are covered.  Then, with what is leftover, I can go out with friends,” said Panagiotou.Panagiotou, a psychology major, has been employed as a work-study student for the humanities and human sciences department for the last four years.  For three years, she has worked seven hours a week, but is now down to three-and-a-half. Her department was originally allotted 40 hours to share between three students. Now, the hours have been cut in half. Luckily, Panagiotou works a second job near her house in Wexford. But with her long commute, picking up extra shifts is not an easy task. With her senior year coming to a close, Panagiotou may not be using the Career Development services to seek part-time employment, but will definitely consider their services when she starts looking for a full-time job or graduate school.”I encourage more students to use the offices of Career Development.  When more students know the services they offer, they have a reason to expand their resources.”