How to get the balance right
Most course providers recommend less than 15 hours a week, so make sure it’s flexible and can be scheduled around your lecture timetable.
How to find a job
For starters make sure it’s a safe job, and if it’s a large company, check whether you can work in your home town during the holidays too.
- Your course provider might have info on good jobs you can get while you study – possibly on-campus jobs in the library, at open days, or with the students’ union.
- Check employment agencies and job adverts online and in newspapers, or student jobsites like e4s or Student Job.
- Retail is a popular choice because it can offer flexible hours – or try something like admin, restaurants, bars, telesales, or market research.
Choose part-time work that will help your career
If you have definite career plans, you may be able to find part-time work that is directly relevant. Otherwise, you can gain a variety of 'employable' skills through any temporary job. These can include:
- fluency in verbal and written communication
- numeracy
- commercial awareness
- analytical/lateral thinking
- planning, organisation, and time management
- drive
- flexibility and tolerance to change and pressure
- creativity and self-awareness
- teamwork, leadership, and skills of persuasion and negotiation
- training and coaching skills
Some of these workplace skills may build on the abilities you demonstrate through study, whereas others will be complementary. Strategically, you may want to use work experience to build abilities that aren’t obvious on your CV.
Above all, employers will want you to display the same skills in fresh thinking and systematic working that make you a success academically.
Check the tax details
Each tax year (6 April to 5 April the year after), you can earn an amount of money you don’t pay any tax on. This is called your ‘personal allowance’ and by working part-time you might stay under the limit – so no tax!
Any funding you receive shouldn’t be taxed either – nor should it be counted towards your personal allowance.