If you’re thinking about taking on a part-time job, looking for a new one, or want to know how to find part-time work, we’ve put together some helpful tips to make your job search a little bit easier.
Whether you need to supplement your student loan or simply want to gain more experience in the working world, there are many different reasons why you might decide to work part-time at university. If you’re thinking about taking on a part-time job, looking for a new one, or want to know how to find part-time work, we’ve put together some helpful tips to make your job search a little bit easier.
Step 1: Think Before You Search
Before you even start searching for jobs, there are a few things you need to consider to make the process easier:
- What type of part-time work are you looking for? i.e. hospitality, retail, office work, etc.
- How far are you willing and able to travel? Does the job need to be within walking distance?
- Are you open to working evenings and late nights or will you only work during the day?
- How many hours/days a week can you spare for work?
- What type of work are you looking for; permanent part-time, a paid placement, or an internship?
- Are there any specific businesses or organisations that you’d like to work for?
Thinking about these questions will help you focus your search especially if you’re looking online and or using job-search websites such as Indeed.
Step 2: Update Your CV
The next step, before you start your search, is to ensure your CV is up to date. The University’s Careers Service offers CV checking appointments both during and out of term time. These can be booked through the Careers portal. They also run CV workshops, and have plenty of information on CVs, cover letters, and job applications on the Careers Moodle page and the Student Intranet.
Step 3: Start the Search (online)
Once your CV is up to date and ready to be used, there are a couple of different ways you can start your hunt for part-time jobs online.
The first and most obvious place to start is on job-search websites such as Indeed, Total Jobs, and Reed. The Careers Service has put together an extremely comprehensive guide to job-search websites.
Since you’ve completed step one and narrowed down the type of part-time job you’re looking for, you can use the filtering options on these sites to help you find the work you’d like to apply for.
However, only use these sites to search for jobs – do not use them to apply. Instead, when you spot a job that you’d like to apply for, head to the company’s website and apply there directly; employers tend to look more favourably at applications that have come in through their website rather than a job search site.
As well, when you are submitting your application, remember to tailor your CV and cover letter for each job to give you the best chance of securing an interview.
Alternatively, if you’ve made a list of the businesses or organisations you’d like to work for, you can head directly to their website to see if they have any suitable part-time vacancies. If not, they might have a mailing list you can sign up for to get notified when more vacancies become available.
Step 3: Start the Search (in-person)
Whilst the days of walking into places and handing over your CV are long gone, there are a few ways you can search for jobs in person.
First and most obviously, keep your eye out for job adverts which are often posted in windows or on noticeboards.
Secondly, come along to the Part-time Jobs Fair at the start of the next academic year. These are held at the beginning of Term One and Two. At these events, you’ll be able to meet with local employers and see the range of part-time opportunities available in the area.
Step 4: Apply for the Job
Once you’ve found the job(s) you’d like to apply for, and you’ve made sure that your CV is up to date, all that’s left to do is complete the application. Different roles or organisations may have various requirements, for example, in addition to your CV, you may need to provide a cover letter, answer additional questions, or complete some psychometric testing. Again, the Careers Service has plenty of helpful information on how to complete all the different kinds of applications.
Working for RHSU
If you know you’d like to apply to work with us, keep an eye on our Work With Us page for vacancies. There will be a variety of roles available from bar and catering work to tech and events and office-based jobs.