Student work in UK: The First steps
Students have many reasons to work during their study years. Some need help to pay the tuition fee, some need pocket money or collecting money for traveling. Most of the international students (non-EU) try to work to support themselves or get a work experience abroad. As I already discussed in a previous post, there are many regulations about minimum wage, hours to work/ week and so on. This post focus on the very first step: How to get the first job? If you ever tried to find a job before you know always the first is the hardest. Especially true in the UK where most of the employers consider about previous work experience and references even you are a student.If you want to know more about the wage, hours/week please read first my previous posts : Student work in UK and UK Visa Information for Students.
What do I need for a job-hunting?
A good-looking CV
Obviously if you are doing first-degree or final year study in UK University, might have none. Anyway, make a CV, because employers always ask for it. If you have any work experience even just a few days or some summer job, include it! Everything counts. Possibly most international students are study on postgraduate level. It means they likely have some work experience maybe already done few years before started a Master or Phd. Include all the jobs as detailed as possible (few lines enough, an ideal CV should not be longer then 1-2 page). In addition include some job references too. If you having any difficulties to create your first CV, google it! There are countless good advices and samples out there. Should not take more than few minutes to find one.
Tip: If you apply to work for example catering job for agency (the easiest for starters) put some similar job experience even if you do not have one. Those jobs are easy like host, waiter, bar staff. After 1-2 jobs, you going to be fine and have confidence (my own experience).
Mobile phone number
They have to reach you somehow so e-mail is not enough. When working for agency, they sometimes call you to work immediately somewhere. If you are flexible they going to throw you more job for sure.
All zone bus pass or own transport
For start, you have to drop your CV as many agencies as possible. Probably half of them will respond and only 2-3 will offer a job. So to better your chance drop into many you can.
Patience
The first job does not come easy. Sometimes takes few weeks even month until you got a call. If you are desperate, there is a trick: if you apply to agencies drop by to their office at least once a week. It is not too pushy but you still show yourself. Eventually they will give something. If you are good in the first time, they will give you more. If you have some friend already working with them, ask him to put a good word for you (it did work for me).
Where to find a job?
University, student union.
In most of the universities they have a designated space where they advertise jobs for students. Some of them even have a website for only student work.
Local job agencies
Regardless which city you are there are many employment agencies offering part-time work. Most of them specialized to certain fields like factory work, catering, health care, office. For students who can only work part-time only afternoons, nights and weekends the best and easiest is catering. Have a look first from outside what jobs the agency offers. For catering job good if you have some experience in the CV. They might give you an appointment for a sort interview or test about serving, catering. Do not worry anything difficult. Catering job is likely occasional. Sometimes once a week, sometimes every day. If the agency works for events, they likely have more jobs. Although there are, times where all catering related business busy like Christmas, New Years and bank holidays.
Even if you are international student with restricted hours to work a week (10-20hours) on school holidays like Christmas – New Year and summer holiday can work full-time (40+ hours/ week). If you can manage a permanent part-time job like 3-4 hours a day in the same place, after a while they might consider to employ you as their staff. In most of the cases after 3 months. It means you became their employee so the agency wont take any percentage from your wages.
Factory and warehouse jobs: During your study, it is unlikely to get permanent part-time position. They mainly have full-time jobs and only employ part-time staff during busy period like before Christmas for a month or two.
I am not discuss office jobs now because unlikely to get one during your semester. More possible to get this kind of job after graduation.
Data entry: Popular work for students also. You have to prove your typing skills and accuracy first. Normally the same agencies provide this job like warehouse or factory positions.
Direct employment
If you do not get any feedback from agencies, you can start looking for jobs directly. You can do it online at the local jobcentre website. Therefore, walk around the city with a bunch of CV’s and knock doors. I mean go into coffee shops, bars, restaurants and sandwich places and ask them do they looking for any part-time leave your CV. Popular job for students in UK to work in clubs and bars collecting glasses. Just few hours work in the weekend. Also many take away shops employ part-time workers as some of them only opens the afternoon.
Tip: Friends recommendation is the best chance. If any of your friend work somewhere, can ask for you. Employers prefer more an employee friend than a total stranger.
Important: Make sure all your paperwork is done before you start. Especially if you work for some small restaurants or take away. Believe me, you don’t want to risk your stay and get deported for some extra cash.
Alternatively you might consider to do some jobs from home. These works are quited limited. One I use to do filling up online customer surveys. One I worked for a lot and get paid is the GlobalTestMarket. Well it’s not a serious amount of money more like a pocket money (30-50GBP/month) but some of my friends did this for more companies and earned more.
After reading this post you might think why I want you to put in catering job? Well my friend better be realistic. Whatever work experience you have from home country in the UK you will be a foreign student with no local job experience and creditability. The first employer will take some risk to employ you (at least how they see it). After a while, you worked few months already can start looking around to find a better job. However, in my experience in UK employers still prefer more somebody with a degree and some (any kind) UK work experience than somebody with 3 degree and no experience at all.
Related posts:
Category: study in UK, tips and tricks
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This post is very useful for international students. I know from a personal experience what is the feeling when you are in a new country without close people and you are trying to find a job. I used sites like your although I was not a student
The information here is better.
This post is very useful for international students. I know from a personal experience what is the feeling when you are in a new country without close people and you are trying to find a job. I used sites like your although I was not a student The information here is better.
+1
Useful information, but becuase of the recession, it is getting harder for students in the UK to secure jobs.
The key to getting a job however is persistence and applyig to as many places as you can.
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nice one!! its gonna be very useful for me!!