Upstream Red Team, Join the OTeam!
Thank you for your interest in being part of our Orientation Team! This is a tremendous opportunity for current students to share their experiences, advice, and RUTGERS PRIDE with our incoming students. If you are interested in joining the summer 2027 Orientation Team, please fill out our:
Apply by December 1st!!
Applications open on October 30th and will be due December 1st at 11:59PM. Applicants who attend one of our Information sessions will be emailed the application link. Those applicants who cannot attend an information session will be asked to watch a short interactive recording of an information session and will receive the application link at the end of the video.
Have a question about the application or want to polish up your resume? We are hosting drop-in hours on Friday, November 20th from 11-1 PM in person at the Busch Student Center Room 172 and on ZOOM LINK (NOTE: You must be signed into your Rutgers Zoom account to join)
Want to Learn More? Come to an Information Session:
- Livingston Campus: Wednesday 10/28 - Livingston Student Center 201B from 7:30-8:30 PM
- Douglass Campus: Thursday 11/05- Kathleen Ludwig Center from 7:30-8:30 PM
- Busch Campus: Friday 11/06 - Paul Robeson Cultural Center from 1:30-2:30 PM
- College Ave Campus: Tuesday 11/10 - College Ave Student Center Room 108 from 5:30-6:30 PM
- Virtually: Friday 11/13 from 3-4 PM
- ZOOM LINK (NOTE: You must be signed into your Rutgers Zoom account to join)
Make sure to follow us on Instagram to hear more:
Check out our TWO Orientation Staff Positions
Orientation Coordinator Position Description PDF, Orientation Coordinators (OCs) work in the spring semester during office hours to collaboratively plan summer projects/initiatives. During the summer, the OCs will implement first-year and transfer initiatives developed in the spring semester, supervise orientation leaders, perform office/logistic duties, facilitate mainstage presentations, and assist with training.
Orientation Leader Position Description PDF, Orientation Leaders (OLs) serve as connectors and guides for incoming students at Rutgers. Their responsibilities include facilitating small group activities and discussions, leading campus tours, operational and logistical tasks, serving as panelists, and assisting with behind-the-scenes work.
- Timeline - Orientation Coordinator
- Application
- The application will be available starting October 30, 2026. Interested students will receive an application link after attending an information session or reviewing informational video on the details of the Orientation Team position, criteria, benefits and time commitments. Applications are due December 1, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
- Group Interviews
- Select applicants will be invited to participate in our group interview process which will be held the weekend of Saturday January 23, 2027 - Sunday January 24, 2027. A first-round decision will be made on who will continue to the individual interviews. Invitations will be sent via Rutgers email to those candidates. Candidates who are not proceeding to the next round will also be notified.
- Individual Interviews
- Orientation Coordinators: Select applicants will be invited to participate in the individual interview process. Applicants will have the opportunity to select a 45 minute in-person interview that will be conducted with at least 2 staff members. Individual interviews will be held February 1, 2027 - February 4, 2027.
- Offers, Work Agreements and New Hire Welcome
- Orientation Coordinators: Notification of final staff selection will be done via Rutgers email on Friday, February 5, 2027. In order to accept the offer, newly selected staff must acknowledge and sign the employment agreement by February 12, 2027 at Noon. First Orientation Coordinator staff meeting will be the Week of February 15, 2026
- New Hire Welcome will be Sunday April 11, 2027 for all staff from 1-3PM
- Timeline - Orientation Leader
- Application
- The application will be available starting October 30, 2026. Interested students will receive an application link after attending an information session or reviewing informational video on the details of the Orientation Team position, criteria, benefits and time commitments. Applications are due December 1, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
- Group Interviews
- Select applicants will be invited to participate in our group interview process which will be held the weekend of Saturday January 23, 2027 - Sunday January 24, 2027. A first-round decision will be made on who will continue to the individual interviews. Invitations will be sent via Rutgers email to those candidates. Candidates who are not proceeding to the next round will also be notified.
- Individual Interviews
- Orientation Leaders: Select applicants will be invited to participate in the individual interview process. Applicants will have the opportunity to select a 30 minute virtual interview that will be conducted with 2 staff members. Individual interviews will be held February 8, 2027 - February 19, 2027.
- Offers, Work Agreements and New Hire Welcome
- Orientation Leaders: Notification of final staff selection will be done via Rutgers email on Friday March 5, 2027. In order to accept the offer, newly selected staff must acknowledge and sign the employment agreement by Monday, March 15, 2027 at Noon.
- New Hire Welcome will be Sunday April 11, 2027 for all staff from 1-3PM
- Who can apply? Can I apply to both positions?
- Qualifications for both positions:
- GPA: Must currently have and continue to maintain by the end of spring 2027 a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to be an Orientation Leader and a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA to be an Orientation Coordinator. GPAs for first-year students will be checked in after fall 2026 grades are posted.
- Be enrolled as a matriculating student at Rutgers University - New Brunswick for the Fall 2027 semester
- Applicants must not be on student conduct probation or have any active sanctions with the University
- International students must currently have a F1 and J1 VISA and Workers Permit that allows them to work in the US. Able to work 40 hours per week(summer differs from the 20 hrs during Fall/Spring semesters).
- Must be available for ALL summer trainings and sessions assigned for
- No summer classes or other summer jobs (unless approved by department Director)
- Additional qualifications for Orientation Coordinators only:
- Available for our Spring Team Meetings starting the Week of February 15th, 2027
- At least a second-year class standing
- Previous employment and/or leadership experience (required)
- If you meet both sets of qualifications listed above and both jobs align with your interests, you can apply to both positions! Past orientation experience is not required. New transfer students are eligible to both positions as long as they meet the qualifications of the position.
- Compensation and Benefits
- Pay: The compensation for our Orientation Coordinators is $17.50(pre-tax) and $15.92/hour (pre-tax) for our Orientation Leaders. Both positions have the opportunity to earn overtime pay and staff will be paid on a bi-weekly during the course of the summer.
- Housing Accommodation: On-campus housing accommodations for summer 2027
- Meals: Select meals provided during all orientation sessions and select training sessions
- Personal and professional development: You will have the opportunity to develop essential career competencies sought out by employers for internships and post-graduation positions.
- Cool Swag: Members of the OTeam will be provided with some swag to help look good, feel good, and work well all summer long.
Hear From Past OTeam Members
Wonder what the summer experience is like? The benefits and skills you will obtain? View the videos below to hear from past Orientation staff!
- Leah, School of Arts and Sciences
“As a commuter student, I initially joined the O-Team in an effort to make connections and feel apart of Rutgers. I would’ve never imagined making lifelong friends and memories that I couldn’t forget if I tried. Being a part of the O-Team not only gave me so much insight into resources on campus, but it gave me the confidence to be my best self as a leader, student, and individual overall.”
- Patrick, School of Communication and Information
“Going into both summers I’ve worked for Orientation I always wanted to be that guide to help new students and I’ve gained so much more as well. Whether it be skills like public speaking, communication, teamwork, and leadership or gaining some very close friends due to the bonds we made over the course of the summer. That’s what’s memorable to me, being able to help others while also being able to gain new people in my life and new skills to use down the line.”
- Aadi, Rutgers Business School
“I would recommend people to join the O-team for its' supportive culture and to build lasting relationships. As cliché as the former reason sounds, this sense of belonging kept me motivated to come to work every day. The Professional Staff does an outstanding job of creating an inclusive and friendly culture, which creates a ripple effect on the whole team. Rutgers is a large university, and it can be challenging at times to find a smaller community where you belong. After working on the O-team, I can proudly say that my world got smaller - in the best possible way. “
