the world of part-time work

If you’re a new student, chances are you’ve already experienced the sweet satisfaction that comes with seeing your bank account filled to the brim when your Student Loan arrives.

It may seem like a lot at the time, and the temptation to live like a king and blow it all on pizza/alcohol/Netflix subscriptions may be irresistible. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

But, if budgeting isn’t your strong suit and you find yourself short on funds, or if your Student Loan doesn’t quite cover your living costs, you may decide to also pick up part-time work while you’re studying.

A wise move. After all, even if you don’t think you need it, a little extra cash to burn never hurt, right?
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If you are looking for part-time work, there are plenty of websites out there to find the job that works for you. 

Indeed, Reed and Jobsite all have hundreds of part-time positions; just type ‘part-time’ and your location into the search bar, and the world is your oyster.

There are even filters to help you find the one that’s right for you – from salary, to distance, to specialisms. Websites like StudentJob even include summer jobs, placements and internships.

But what about studies? What about leisure time?

Never fear.

Most student jobs are low-hour contracts, averaging at ten to twenty hours a week, and are really flexible. Find a job with hours that suit you the best, meaning you still have plenty of time for revision and relaxation.
Bar-work, retail and table waiting are all good choices, boasting flexible shifts and quick, easy applications. If you’re looking for something more relevant to your studies, plenty of companies and organisations offer part-time positions, whether in book-keeping or animal care.

These may take a little longer to find, but might be well worth the hunt. (Hint: something like this would also look great on your CV.) You can also hunt for part-time work at your university, such as work on Open-Days and student fairs, or jobs in uni bars/cafes/restaurants/shops.

Once you’ve found a job that appeals to you, the next step is getting your application in. We have plenty of support, from CV to interview tips, on our Jobs page if you need a little nudge in the right direction.

From there, it’s all about planning. Apps like Wunderlist, Trello and Evernote can help you organise your time better, meaning you’re making the most of your days off. This can be for study, reading, hobbies, binge-watching in your pyjamas, etc. You can find even more superb study apps here. 

If you feel like going a bit more analogue, nothing beats a calendar and a pen. Give different colours a different meaning, and colour your days in appropriately. Yellow for study days, red for work, green for days off; whatever suits you best.

Feel like blasting through stationary? You can even add labels or post-it notes to remind you of just what you plan to spend your time on.

At the end of the day, what matters is finding the right balance. Getting a part-time job and planning your week around it is a great way to do just that, meaning your wallet will feel a lot heavier without sacrificing your studies or social life

Author

Greg Harding.