Finding a job

Types of job

• Part-time and temporary roles
• Internships
• Industrial placements
• Working abroad
• Freelancing
• Where to look

Part-time and temporary roles

Part-time work can be defined as working less than a full-time job of 35 hours per week. The University recommends that full-time students work no more than 15 hours per week, to ensure that they maintain a healthy balance between their work and studies.

There are many different types of part-time work, which range from temporary and seasonal contracts to regular part-time hours and 'zero hours' contracts. These types of contracts are great for students as they offer a flexible way of working.

Part-time work is a really important element when it comes to being a university student. Not only does it help with funding, but it can really help to contribute to your employability skills and experience when it comes to seeking full-time employment after graduation.

Internships

When we talk about internships, we usually mean paid, short-term work experience placements, which usually give you a structured programme for learning things 'on the job'.

Bear in mind that some internships are unpaid, but Careers and Employability only offer paid opportunities on Jobs Central.

Industrial placements

If you are thinking about taking a year out from your studies to do an industrial placement, you may be able to do this as part of your course. To find out more come to a drop-in, speak with your module leader or personal tutor

Working abroad

Prospects have a comprehensive section on working abroad and have country profiles on lots of different countries.
Have a think about the following things when you start looking for work abroad:

• Look at international companies based in the UK who have branches in the country of choice.
• Check visa and work permit requirements for the country.
• Make sure your applications, CVs and interview styles are in-line with the rules of etiquette for that particular country.
• Entry Park have listings of international opportunities for internships, graduate schemes and graduate direct entry roles.

Freelancing

Sustaining a career as a freelancer requires a particular type of person and mindset, compared to the usual '9–5' type job. For lots of people, freelancing doesn't always fit. For some people, self-employment is a lifestyle choice and for others it is sometimes the only option if you wish to go down a specific career path such as journalism, the performing arts and certain other professions.

To be successful as a freelancer you must be very self-reliant and motivated, as well as flexible in your approach to work.

There is some great advice on the Creative Agency Freelancing website.

Where to look

When looking for jobs it is important to use lots of resources, as different opportunities are advertised in different places. You need to make sure you are using at least three or four of the suggested methods for the best results. Some resources to consider include:

• Jobs Central
• LinkedIn
• Prospects
  
• Milkround
• TARGETjobs
• Magnet.me
• Graduate-Jobs
• The Job Crowd
• Guardian Jobs
• TheBigChoice.com
• Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has an excellent resource to search for agencies in your particular field.
• RateMyPlacement
• Reed
• Inside Careers
• Glassdoor
• UK300