How does tax work on a second job please?

[CharminglyOdd]

I quit my part-time job to be a full time student and get the best possible marks, understanding this would put me in a sticky financial situation and that I would have to work two jobs when I graduated. I'm looking (I finish in a few weeks) for a weekend job and a full time job in my chosen field.

Previously I've had several jobs but they've never put me over the taxable earnings barrier and were all student jobs - my employers understood/didn't care whether I worked in other places as long as I completed my hours for them.

Will a professional company have a problem with me working a Saturday job and do I have to declare it to them? How does the tax work for two jobs please? Has anyone done this and it is feasible - are graduates expected to work overtime at the weekend (am aiming at consultancy/office work in my field as a stepping-stone)? I have no real experience of a non-education professional workplace.

Sorry, should have been clearer - have only ever had part-time jobs as I'm still completing my education.

Your main employer will put you on a tax code. At the moment the tax threshold is about £7.5k. Provided it will not interfere with your shifts/duties in your main job they will not care if you have a second job. (or if they do they can't do anything about it).

Your second job will have a BR tax code and you will pay 20% tax on this job.

If between the two jobs you will not earn £7.5k, then you can ring the tax office and ask to be put on a code split, and they will contact your employers and tell them what code to put you on.

(When you start your 'main' job you may initially be put on a BR tax code untill they process your paperwork)

You should check before you take a job if you would/may be required to work weekends, and if the answer is yes, then you will have to honour that over getting a part time job.

I don't know what the position is in your chosen field regarding overtime and weekend shifts!

Thank you. I know that without the field it is difficult but I wondered if, generally speaking, graduate jobs in offices involved weekend work. I have heard some horror stories from investment bank graduate workers but realise that's quite a demanding field (not that mine isn't but I think investment banks are an extreme of working!) so wasn't sure if it was common everywhere.

As my field is so specific I'd rather not say (as I've given other IDing info elsewhere on MN) - I appreciate that reduces the help people can give :)

I think you might have to be prepared to work weekends, but you could look for weekend evening job, and in some trades second employers will help you work around you 'day' job.

As an example I have a pub, and have employed lots of people for just weekend nights, or accomodated a late week night, one girl finished her day job at 8 pm which is the latest of my night starts but we agreed she could start at 8.30.

Communicate with both from the off and you will be ok!