November 27, 2024, by Leah Sharpe

Student jobs: Are they worth it?

By Hannah Kane, Biblical Studies and Theology

As someone who has worked six ‘student’ jobs over the course of my degree, I like to think I am somewhat qualified to discuss why you should think about working alongside your studies.

But apart from the extra cash, what are the perks of having a part-time job at university?

Preparing for job applications

Applying for jobs at university is the perfect opportunity to brush up on those CV and cover letter writing skills. You will want to know how to write cover letters and tailor your CV before it comes to applying for your dream full-time role. Applying for part-time roles will also get you into the habit of getting a member of the Careers team to check your application. After all, you want to be the recruiters first choice.

Remember, practise makes perfect.

Experience

The first role I had was during the summer in between first and second year. It was advertised as a paid internship to assist in curriculum development within my school. It was my first time working with a direct line manager and seeing real life outcomes. I had deadlines to meet, goals to hit and I learned the importance of teamwork. Since then, my experience has only grown.

New skills

During my time at university, I have worked within Customer Service, Archives and Libraries, Careers and Employability Service and within my school and department. This all started with me having minimal work experience prior to my arrival in first year. Within the variety of roles I have undertaken, I have picked up many new skills. Skills like communication, time management, and teamwork. The breadth and depth of the skills are key to securing future job roles.

Building confidence

As someone who was naturally shy in secondary school, confidence wasn’t something that came naturally to me. Having a part-time job with responsibility helped me gain confidence in myself and my abilities. In my role as a Library Assistant, I am learning new things all the time. I am also trying new and complicated procedures. Part-time jobs give you responsibility that you may not get by completing work experience or volunteering, therefore building your confidence that you can in fact do the work expected of you.

Prepare for a full-time role

A part-time job as a student can prepare you for the expectations you’re going to face in the workplace. After all, it’s a completely different environment to what you’ve been used too. Gradually, you will learn how to present yourself in a professional manner and understand the expectations you are expected to meet. This could mean meeting deadlines or having others rely on you for example.

By the time you hit the graduate job market, you will be workplace ready.

Find out more about part-time jobs at university.

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