The Iglu Guide | Blog
Finding a job while studying
City living can be expensive, especially when there are so many new experiences on offer. Fortunately, a busy city also means there are plenty of job opportunities available – from casual weekend hours through to industry-specific work experience.
Whether you’re simply needing some extra pocket money or you’re keen to improve your long-term career prospects, you still need to apply the same level of application and dedication to cut through the noise and get yourself noticed. Here’s how.
Why should I work while studying?
Working while studying not only boosts your personal finances, it also helps with future job applications because you already have some experience of workplace dynamics. The soft skills that you will pick up, such as communication, teamwork, time management and conflict resolution can be translated across to any workplace. Understanding and applying this skillset will give you a great advantage when you are applying for future work, as they are all highly valued by employers.
What’s the best job for me?
Decide what will suit your schedule best and what will least interfere with the main aim of the student game – your studying. Fortunately, there are plenty of casual jobs around that can give you extra cash and flexibility, all without adding too much pressure to your workload. Consider bar work, waitressing or retail opportunities for flexible hours that you can increase and decrease as you need to. If you have your own vehicle (or even a bicycle), food delivery is a growing industry – and has the added benefit of ticking the exercise box at the same time. You won’t have to deal with customers that much, and you get to know the city streets inside out!
How to look for work
- Get your resumé ready to go and in tip top condition with all relevant information on hand. Be sure to include any recent experience or skills that will make you more attractive to a potential employer – and check it again and again spelling mistakes and typos. Tailor your resumé for each application to make sure it is as relevant as possible.
- Create a job search plan. Think about where you are going to target, how you will do it and where you will go. There are many ways to find work opportunities, from word of mouth through to recruitment agencies and online providers such as Seek or Career One.
- If you just need casual work to boost your pocket money, try popping your head into local shops and cafes and start up a conversation. It might seem old fashioned, but you never know when someone might have an opening and it’s a great way to get to know the local community.
- Keep an eye on your social media posts – and let your network know you are in the market for a job. It’s never too early to set up a professional profile on LinkedIn.
- Network. It might sound straight out of the 1980s, but simply talking and interacting with other students from different disciplines is a great way to hear about what’s going on out in the world – with opportunities that might just suit you.
Do your homework
If you are at the interview stage, or you are planning on a personal visit, make sure you have done your homework. Research the industry and workplace online, understand the marketplace and any pain points so you have plenty to talk about. Even if it’s waitressing, simply demonstrating an understanding of peak periods or tricky customer situations shows that you have put time and effort into the application. If it’s your target career industry, get online and understand their vision and mission – and whether you align with that. Go to each meeting prepared and informed. You can practise mock interviews with friends and family and be prepared to answer about anything that is listed on your resumé. The more you practise, the more confident and natural you will become.
What to wear
There are no specific rules around this other than the fact you want to give the best impression of yourself that you can. You only get one opportunity to make a first impression, and there are already multiple assumptions being made before you have even spoken a word. Of course, you can change or reinforce any of these as soon as you speak, but why take the risk? Get it right from the outset.
- Make sure you dress smartly and appropriately for the situation. A suit might seem unnecessary and a little old fashioned, but if you are considering this job as a potential field of future industry it doesn’t hurt to be taken seriously.
- Dress comfortably. This will also help you feel more relaxed and at ease.
- Less is definitely more, so maybe don’t bother with the necklace layering or stacking bracelets. Your interviewer is interested in what you actually have to say, so unwelcome visual distractions are just that.
Prepare your killer question
Be well prepared for the inevitable moment at the end when you are asked if you have any questions – it’s your time to shine. Remember, interviews are a two-way process. This is your chance to show interest and commitment, but also your opportunity to uncover information about your prospective workplace – and whether it is the right place for you.
Photo by Windows on Unsplash
