How to Find a Part-time Job Fast as a Student With No Experience: Maintenance Loans are clearly insufficient to pay living costs in the UK, with students having an average gap of £340 per month. And for international students it even gets more hectic as they are not entitled to many such loans.
Part-time occupations at university are held by as many as 66 percent of students. You might start generating a regular, consistent income by acquiring a job. This will make a significant difference if, like so many others, you discover that your Student Loan is insufficient.
Part-time employment, on the other hand, don’t magically appear out of nowhere and land in your lap. You must first select what you want to do and then put up the effort necessary to find work.
How to get a part-time job
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Look for part-time jobs far in advance
When looking for work, it’s best to get started as soon as feasible. You might not get a job right immediately, so don’t wait until you really need to start looking for work to start applying.
To escape the peak job-hunting season, start looking for part-time work online and applying for a few jobs before you attend university.
During freshers’ week, everyone will be hunting for work, but if you’re already in the interview stage, you’re in for a terrific opportunity.
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Write a brilliant CV
Regardless of the job you’re applying for, you’ll need a strong résumé that will set you apart from the competition.
Our guide to building the perfect CV should be your first destination. Even if you think you’ve nailed your CV, read through our suggestions to ensure it’s of A+ quality.
Keep a duplicate of your standard CV on hand, and then customise it for each job application. If a job posting particularly requests communication and organisational skills, make sure your CV demonstrates that you possess these abilities (backed up with any relevant experience).
How to Prepare for Credibility Interview for UK Student Visa
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Triple check your details
Students are notorious for changing their contact information on a regular basis, so double-check that the information you’re offering to potential employers is correct.
Also, keep an eye out for mistakes throughout your application, but especially in the section where you provide your contact information.
Recruiters will contact you about interviews using the email address and phone number you provide on your application.
We also don’t recommend using a Hotmail email address because it’s the least professional of the lot. Instead, you might get an Outlook or Gmail address.
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Take part in extracurricular activities
We understand that it may appear to be a vicious cycle, but having some work experience on your resume makes it much easier to find work. But don’t panic if you’ve never worked before; there are plenty of other things you can do to improve your job applications.
Are you undecided on which ones to try? Depending on your chosen industry, we offer a list with the ideal extracurricular activities for you.
You might also consider volunteering, assisting a family member with their business, or even building a website to attract companies’ attention.
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Be enthusiastic as a job applicant
Follow up on your application and ask for updates to show companies you’re interested in the job.
Although you should never bother recruiters, making an effort to stay in touch with them during the process will go a long way.
Also, if you have a job interview, it’s always a good idea to write a quick email thanking the interviewer for their time following. This not only demonstrates your genuine interest in the position, but also that you are courteous, warm, and grateful for the opportunity.
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Put your social media settings on private
While there is a divide between your professional and personal lives, employers are unlikely to hire you if all they see on your social media is photographs of drunken nights out and profane rants on Facebook.
Instead, make sure you’re doing everything you can to make the most of social media in order to acquire a job.
Where to look for part-time jobs
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Part-time job search tools
Finding a solid part-time job requires knowing exactly where to go online. The best place to seek is generally on the company’s own website, where they will post employment openings.
We may be biased, but we believe our part-time job search engine is the best available for university students looking for work. It’s updated on a regular basis, so keep an eye out for new entries.
Sign up for job websites as well. CV-Library, for example, will notify you when part-time employment in your area become available.
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Social media
We mentioned it before, but social networking is ideal for job hunting.
In addition to looking for job openings directly on firms’ websites, check out their social media profiles as well.
They’ll probably publish job openings on social media sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook; if this is the case, you can like or comment to the post (as long as your social media is already looking professional).
It’s also worth looking into any student Facebook groups in your university city. To attract students, local pubs, coffee shops, and retail businesses frequently post job postings in groups like this. Alternatively, check to see whether your city has any hospitality Facebook groups (if you want to work in hospitality, that is).
Check out our comprehensive advice on how to find a job using Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media networks.
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University jobs fairs
Many institutions host career fairs throughout the year, allowing you to meet companies face to face. These are fantastic possibilities, so find out when your university is conducting a career fair and attend.
Find out which companies will be attending a university employment fair to make the most out of it. Prepare ahead of time by doing some research and arriving with a list of questions and notes.
After speaking with recruiters at career fairs, request their business card and follow up with an email. It’s a good idea to remind them who you are in the email, thank them for their time, and encourage them to keep in touch when part-time positions become available.
In addition to attending employment fairs, see if your university offers a JobShop service. You might be able to obtain a part-time employment in their stores, bars, or on open days as a result of this.
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Recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies are similar to matching services, except that instead of assisting you in finding love, they assist you in finding work.
It makes sense to get involved because they usually have a database of openings that need to be filled. Check out our complete guide to getting the most out of recruitment agencies before signing up.
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Your network
If you have friends or family who work for a company you’re interested in, they might be able to let you know when a new position becomes available – and ideally put in a good word for you.
If all else fails, simply ask the question the old-fashioned manner. When looking for part-time work, stepping into a place with your resume and asking if there are any openings can be highly beneficial. Also, don’t be hesitant to inquire for a work at a business, cafe, or bar that doesn’t have a “help wanted” sign on the window; you’ll never know what’s available unless you ask!
It may appear difficult at first, but once you’ve gotten through the first few, it will get lot easier.
Should you get a job at university?
Before you commit to anything, think about if a part-time work is good for you right now.
To begin, determine why you desire a part-time employment. Is it solely for the money, to beef up your resume, or even to meet new people?
If you’re only doing it for the money, make sure you first figure out your monthly budget. Although it isn’t the most enjoyable process, sitting down to figure up your incomings and outgoings can offer you a clear picture of how much of a shortfall you have to make up for.
You might even discover that you don’t need a job at all, and that a few minor money-making tactics here and there will suffice to supplement your income.
It’s also worth noting that, while juggling a job while at university will look fantastic on your CV, you can also boost your résumé by gaining work experience or participating in extracurricular activities. These have the extra benefit of being short-term commitments that shouldn’t have a significant influence on your education.
In the first place, it’s critical to sit down and figure out how much time you can devote to a job. Is there room in your schedule for a part-time job? Many institutions recommend working a part-time job for no more than 15 hours per week throughout the academic year, however this varies by individual.
Recommended part-time jobs for students
1. Retail
Pros: Temp work is available throughout the holidays, there is a staff discount, it is simple job, and no experience is required.
Cons: Hours might be unpredictable, weekend work is sometimes necessary, and there is a lot of competition for positions.
Working in retail might range from your local supermarket to a clothing store, but you can anticipate to be manning the cash registers, providing customer service, and stocking shelves wherever you go.
If you have no prior work experience, retail is one of the easiest industries to break into.
It’s worth heading up to whoever is in charge in the shop with a big smile and a nice face, and a CV in hand, to find a part-time work in local independent retailers.
However, for the major chain retailers, we recommend checking their websites’ careers sections to see if they have any part-time positions available in your area. Then, if you’ve located any positions that interest you, you should be able to apply for them online.
A part-time work in retail is easiest to come by around the holidays, when stores are in desperate need of help. Start applying for employment in October or November if you aren’t too busy researching for examinations. This will boost your chances of finding a job.
2. Service industry
Pros: Free food, the possibility of additional gratuities on top of your pay, and often no prior experience is required.
Cons: Can be exhausting, requires late/long hours, and can leave you feeling oily and odorous.
This can range from working at Maccy D’s to becoming a barista to working as a waiter in a high-end restaurant.
Typical responsibilities include taking orders and serving tables, with the possibility of cooking and dishwashing if you work in the fast-food industry.
Did we mention that these kind of employment are likely to feature some free food? It’s easy to see why students have long preferred part-time jobs in this profession.
3. Bar work
Pros: Uni bars are more flexible during vacations and test periods, and evening shifts won’t interfere with your schedule.
Cons: Long hours, high likelihood of dealing with inebriated customers.
You might be able to get paid part-time job collecting glasses, monitoring a club’s cloakroom, cleaning, advertising events, and more in addition to working as a bartender.
There’s plenty of potential work to be found in practically any university town, with enough bars to keep you drinking for the duration of your degree.
Many part-time student jobs likely fit into one of the three categories above, but keep in mind that there are plenty of other options out there that you probably haven’t considered yet – and we’ve compiled a list of them for you to consider.
