Part time job while at uni

[Agnesf]

Just wondering if this is feasible/ desirable. I'd be interested to hear about your DCs experiences. I'm not sure whether its a good or bad idea.

We have saved enough to fund DD through university but she's keen to get some real work on her CV. She's wonering about a part time job during term time or whether best to just look for something in the hols

Depends on the course. One of my dc had two full free days in the week so got a retail job, the other doing science degree and in uni every day so works in the holidays instead (temping agency)

Dd is doing teaching. 4 year course an hour away.

She worked from 16-18 in a hotel. Returned over Christmas and Easter and then she worked May/June there.

At uni she had a job selling shots. Earned up to £40 cash in hand. It was her food money and night out money.

She's currently working in an Playschene for children who have additional needs. But she's just qualified in burlesque fitness classes to run in Uni town.

I did it, 20 hrs a week managing a bar. It was great, good money £12 an hour and didn't interrupt my studies at all. I did English, so low contact hours but managed a 1st at a Top 10 so am glad I worked too. My manager has actually said it was this that swung her to hire me.

And I work at a newspaper so it wasn't related at all.

my ds is studying accounting and finance and certainly would have time for a job as his contact hours are about 11/12 per week.
He doesn't work during term time, but tutors in the Easter holidays - he takes this seriously and earnt £800 this year.
He currently has a summer job which is related to his degree, but I do think any job is useful experience and if he hadn't got this summer internship he would have been working at the motorway services.

Ds does not get any loans as we live overseas and we fund his expenses during term time.

I sometimes recruit people fresh out if university and I really don’t like to hire people who don’t have experience in a workplace, regardless of what it is. They would have to be exceptional for me to hire them with no work experience or at least long term voluntary work. My field is not something you would specifically get a degree (i.e. not engineering, journalism etc) so obviously it would probably be different in those circumstances.

I think having a job while at uni is a very good idea. Student union, private tutoring (plenty of opportunities in London) and coaching/lifeguard are good places to start. It is a good life skill to know value of money (not implying that your DC doesn't already!).

Both of mine had quite intensive courses and did work in the holidays but not in term time. One did some career related volunteering in term time.
Unis often recruit students to do work as ambassadors which can suit many as it's casual so no weekly time commitment. It's also quite good for people skills.

It really really helps as a graduate to prove you managed your time, we’re reliable, took on instructions from managers. And you’ll get a reference saying the same.

Definitely a good idea. I have done competency based job interviews with recent graduates and the ones that have had jobs definitely interview a lot better.

One of my kids is doing veterinary but has a casual job in a library for a few days each holiday and the odd weekend. Some on her course are self funding and work all weekend, doable but extremely hard.

My younger child also has a permanent Saturday job in a library and picks up extra hours in the holidays.

DD worked through her undergraduate joint degree (4 years, as Scotland) and through her Masters as she didn't want to take money from me as a single parent on minimum wage. She worked huge numbers of hours during her holidays. One of her friends trained to be a nurse and also worked. The job was understanding about her placements and allowed her to work her hours around them. It can be done. DD did a minimum of 20 hours a week, plus had her student loan and a small bursary. No fees, as we are Scottish.