Working While Studying in London and the UK

Working while studying in a college or university is a great way to improve some of your skills, broaden your knowledge and have an unforgettable experience. In addition, you may earn some money and become prepared for your future career. If you are among the students from overseas who want to find out how to find a part-time job in the UK, then this article is written for you. In addition, we divided the article below into two parts: “Tips” on finding the job and “Answers” to the most common questions.

Tips:

1. Work on campus

Register online with your university’s career center. The team working in a Student Union will keep you informed about the free vacancies. Thus, check your mail regularly. In addition, working on your campus is worth your attention because you will be certainly paid and it will be easy to combine this work with your studies.

2. Do not be afraid to ask

Ask for the vacancies in the local shops you usually make purchases in. If there will be no vacancies left, give them your mobile number. Who knows, maybe somebody will be discharged and you will be next in the queue for his/her vacancy.

3. Christmas time

There is a huge amount of jobs available in Christmas time. However, you have to look for them in advance. Christmas is a busy time for all the businesses and, therefore they usually need extra staff.

4. Alternative

You can always become a “mystery diner” or take part in different researches if you want to. In addition, if you are good in drawing or other art you may try to sell some of your artworks. Moreover, try tutoring to make extra cash. Work as a freelancer to make money online, for example provide the essay writing help if you are good in writing. You are also more than welcome to visit a recruitment agency, check a category “College student jobs” in the local newspapers or contact the companies of the business sector you want to join.

5. Volunteering

A lot of youngsters work as the volunteers all over the UK. Working as the volunteer can not only give you a chance to improve society but can also be the good experience to be added to your CV. Check UKCISA and the UK government website to have more information about volunteering.

Answers to the common questions:

∙Can the international students from the European Economic Area (EEA) work in the UK?

Yes! If you are from the EU, EEA and Switzerland you can work in the UK. Only the students from Croatia may be subject to the Worker Authorisation Scheme.

∙Can the international students work if they have a study visa?

Yes! A study visa is a Tier 4 visa which gives you a lot of opportunities in a sense of jobs depending mainly on your university. Usually students can work 10-20 hours per week and full-time on holidays, however you cannot work at all if you study at the private university.

∙Can I work without paying taxes?

No! You need to have a National Insurance number to start working and, therefore, you will have to pay taxes. Apply for a NI number here.

Employers expect their workers to have a set of different characteristics and skills. Therefore, trying to work on a part-time basis can improve a number of skills such as communicational skills, problem solving and teamwork. Moreover, working in the UK can improve your ability to speak in English. Many students do not know how to work and study at the same time, but it is really easy if you are active. Be prepared for your future career with our “Tips & Answers” above. Good luck!