Blog: Tips on getting a part-time job

Are you looking for a way to expand your skill set and earn extra income alongside your studies? Then finding a part-time job may benefit you!  

Hi, my name is Hannah and I’m a second-year law student and one of your Student Content Shapers. Getting a part-time job during your studies doesn’t only boost your CV but also helps you to develop many key skills necessary for future employment and beyond.  

Here are my tips on finding a part-time job so you can make the most out of your time at university.  

Visit Worklink on campus

Did you know that the university and your subject department offer part-time opportunities specifically for students at UoB? Make sure to check out the Worklink website or drop in at the Worklink Hub in University Centre (inside the food court). The Hub is open from Monday to Friday during term time, from 10am-4pm, where you will be able to chat to the team about any job openings.  

That’s how I found out about becoming a paid Student Content Shaper and I would highly recommend looking out for any opportunities throughout the year from Worklink on their vacancies page. 

The casual recruitment service offers flexible part-time work that can fit around your university schedule, and I love that through many of the roles offered, you get the chance to represent the university which is a nice way of giving back to the student community.  

The Guild of Students also offers part-time work which many of my course mates enjoy being a part of so make sure to check out the Guild of Students website as well!

Get to know Careers Network

UoB's Careers Network service gives useful advice and support if you are struggling with finding a part-time job. The first step to looking for a job is having a good CV and if you don’t know where to start, then you can get help from the Careers Network.  

For example, you can get instant CV feedback from a virtual CV checking platform or book appointments to speak with specialist career advisors. I found this to be a really useful resource as speaking to a careers advisor helped soothe my worries about the future and they gave helpful advice on how to take the next steps in my career path. Careers Network sends out daily and weekly emails on various opportunities in your desired field and is a great starting point if you want to improve your employability.  

Research your interests

Have no idea what part-time job is a good fit for you? Another tip is researching for roles which are related to your current interests, skills or hobbies. If you enjoy speaking with members of the public and working as a team, then a retail or customer service role may be perfect for you.  

You are in the perfect place as Birmingham has lots of retail shops, such as in Bullring in the city centre and the Selly Oak Retail Park, so there are sure to be many opportunities throughout the year. Everyone has unique skills and interests which can help them land their dream part-time job. Just make sure your passion and strengths are highlighted in your application! For example, in my application for becoming a Student Content Shaper, I made sure to emphasise my passion for video producing and used past experiences to showcase my video editing skills which helped me land this role.  

Get a head start

Start job hunting early to get the best chances of securing a part-time job. Don’t wait until the first week of term to apply but make sure to apply for various roles throughout the semester and even during the holidays as new openings pop up all the time. Using job search engines such as Indeed and student-friendly websites like Save the Student makes job hunting easier as they have filters, allowing you to find a part-time job tailored exactly to your requirements.  

Don't give up!

Being patient and consistent is key to finding a part-time job. You can stay organised by keeping a spreadsheet of current openings and their deadlines or create a timetable to do a little bit every day, whether that’s tweaking your CV or searching for new vacancies. I’ve found that this is the best way to prevent burnout and procrastination.  

If you ever feel overwhelmed or anxious about your finances, you don’t have to struggle on your own. The university’s Time to Talk? page has a list of free and confidential services and support which you can access. For financial support or advice on saving or managing money, you can also visit the university’s Cost of Living website for further help.

I hope you found some of these tips helpful in looking for a part-time job. A part-time job can be an amazing opportunity to meet new people and gain experience and confidence for your future career. So, don’t wait and start applying now!