The Iglu Guide | Blog
The best job-hunting tips for students
Balancing out your studies with a part time job as a student can be tough – and many universities may advise against it, particularly if you have a heavy workload. But student life can be expensive – and there’s every chance a part-time job will make you extra employable at the end. Ultimately, it’s a very personal decision and much will depend on how well you can manage your time. Here’s what you need to know.
Know what you want
Be focussed from the outset and understand what you want from a job. If your needs aren’t purely money-driven, you may want to consider internships or volunteering as a way to get related experience. These are great opportunities to pick up soft skills like communication, teamwork and time management – all of which are so important in the workplace. Gaining professional experience in a related field can make you stand out from the crowd and give you that extra boost when it’s time to look for a job. If it’s all about boosting the budget, think about what sort of work you might enjoy and target those areas first. Try and stick close to home to limit any unnecessary travel.
Be realistic
Finding a job is all about knowing your limits. Make sure you are fully on top of your timetable and any uni commitments before you get started – and highlight important periods well in advance to ensure you can take the necessary time off. Work out how many hours you can afford to give – and be sure to check your visa limitations. If you’re unsure, go back to your budgets and have a close look at all your expenditure. Think about the impact on your workload and then decide whether the benefits of working will outweigh the financial pressure. If you do decide to go ahead, try not to overcommit and be realistic about the time you can afford to give – otherwise your uni work is very likely to suffer.
Prepare your resumé
Have a decent resumé ready to go so that you can either hand in personally, or email it to prospective employees. At this stage it’s best to keep it to a simple one-pager, particularly if you are applying for work in local cafes, shops and bars.
Show your face
These days it’s all too easy to hide behind an online profile, but many customer-facing businesses want to physically see you. Our behaviours have been affected by the internet by such an extent that it actually says something about you if you are prepared to show up in person and have an IRL conversation. Already, you’re demonstrating great communication and interpersonal skills that will immediately set you apart from an online application. This small touch works wonders with future employers, especially in the catering business where you will be interacting with the public as a large part of your role.
Keep your priorities straight
If you’re committing a certain number of hours to a part time job, it’s important that you maximise the rest of your time so that you don’t fall behind. Staying in bed half the day is not the way to do this. Once you are working, try and get into the habit of setting an alarm on your free days so you’re not chasing the game when you finally re-surface. Equally, it’s important to make sure you are getting enough sleep every night and to find time to relax. If you’re consistently feeling stressed and short of time, it’s probably a good idea to rethink your schedule.
