5 Top tips for securing a part-time job

1. Do your research 

There is no point finding a part-time job in an industry you despise. To avoid making this mistake, research the opportunities out there and make sure you align with the values, ethos, and work that the company offers and will be asking you to complete. 

It's also worth seeing if there are any jobs relevant to the career path you are looking to undertake. 

If not, don’t worry. Reach out to the standard places who usually employ students e.g., coffee shops, pubs, leisure centers, retailers, supermarkets, journals, nanny agencies. 

It's also worth mentioning, not everywhere advertises when they have a vacancy so if you have visited a place you like, it’s worth asking if they have any vacancies.

Make sure to research flexibility of hours. If they are looking for full-time staff, you're probably not what they would be looking for as a student. 

Unitemps and UCL Job Shop are great resources. Most of their jobs are flexible, well paid, and reliable! Give these sites a browse.

2. Spend time on your application 

Take care when writing your applications and make them the best they can be. This will be worth it in the long run, as they tend to be an organisation's first impression of you. 

For each job you apply for you will have to tailor your application but creating a generic one can help later. 

Make sure your CV is relevant to the position and your cover letter is specific to the organisation and position. 

Familiarise yourself with any key words in the job description and if there is interview guidance, make sure to check it out. 

3. Look for support, advice, and guidance

UCL careers are amazing. Sign up to their newsletter, go to their events and book 1:1 sessions with their advisors. 

They are here to support you, and you should make the most out of them. Whether it’s for a CV, cover letter, interview, or just general advice, talking to a UCL career specialist would 100% be worth your while. 

Googling examples and using Microsoft templates for CVs and cover letters can also be a good thing. I made the use of YouTube with my first few. 

4. Send multiple applications 

Sending out more than one application at a time to different places can speed up the job-hunting process. 

Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and most retail shops usually require a standard CV and cover letter. 

Reaching out to more than one place will make the process more efficient, and if you get offered more than one job, the choice is yours! 

5. Keep trying

Never stop applying after a rejection. It is common to not always get the job, and that is okay. Keep applying and you will get there.

Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin on Unsplash