Job Hunting

Contents

1. Bar work
2. Call centres
3. Supermarkets
4. Retail
5. Voluntary Work
6. Hospitality
7. Student working
8. Job hunting
9. Useful links

If it’s your first time looking for a part-time job, and you’re still not sure what kind of work to look for, here are some of the more common types of job likely to be availble.

Bar Work

If you don’t mind staying up late, bar work is one of the obvious choices. The best bars will look for someone with previous experience, but with so many jobs going it’s not always essential. If you like a fast-paced, busy job then basic bar work will probably suit you, but you probably shouldn’t expect to be intellectually challenged! If you are going for a bar job, don’t feel bad about scheduling your hours to give you enough sleep for lectures — a 9am start can be pretty painful after working until 2am the night before.

Call Centres

The two words you need to be alert to when considering a call-centre job are incoming and outgoing, as there is a world of difference between the two. Incoming means dealing with someone who wants and expects to speak to your company — outgoing often means trying to initiate a sale to an unsuspecting ‘customer’. Both have scripts to follow and targets to hit, so if you’re good at persuading people you could get lots of rewards.

Supermarkets

With a wealth of supermarkets in Glasgow, there are almost always jobs available for cashiers. Expect a high staff turnover, but benefit from working for a large company. Many supermarkets advertise their job opportunities as being ‘student-friendly’, meaning that they will offer flexible hours around exam time — just remember to remind them of this from time to time! Big chain stores may also let you transfer from store to store, so the summer holidays don’t always mean you have to find a new job.

Retail

You’ll usually work ‘normal’ opening hours, so you get evenings free, although you may be up at 9 the following morning! If you’re good at winning people over, you’ll probably be good at working in retail, as it’s all about personality and presentation. With so many different types of retail outlet, you should be able to find something that suits you, and bookstore discounts could save you a nice chunk off your reading list bill.

Voluntary Work

It might not be bringing in the cash directly, but volunteering gives you the kind of valuable experience which could help you progress in your chosen career. You’ll learn lots of transferable skills, while knowing that your time and effort is going to good use. Find out about the projects run by the SRC Volunteering.

Hospitality

Catered events, acting as a host or waiter/waitress — the opportunities for this type of job in Glasgow are almost endless, and you’ll find that restaurant jobs are quite easy to come by if you don’t mind a fast paced environment and a bit of hard work, coupled with keeping up a friendly attitude to customers. Temping agencies can usually offer a variety of hospitality work at relatively short notice, or you can find new vacancies online or advertised in the venue itself.

Of course there are many other types of employment available, and you could end up trying any number of different part-time jobs. Those in part-time courses may find themselves working more hours than they attend University, due to the financial constraints of student living. However, remember that while your job may only be part-time, you are entitled to the same rights as any other employee, and are eligible to join a trade union. You can find more information on this on our Employments Rights page.

Students and working

If you are a PhD or research student you may be able to get part-time work at the university as a Graduate Teaching Assistant or GTA.

If you are here on a visa, make sure that the job you have in mind is compatible with your visa and that you are aware of permitted working rules. Please see the UofG visa and employment information.

Job Hunting

Sometimes it can seem like everything is online now — after all, you are reading this on the web — but after you’ve searched our Student Job Hub and other sites, you could try a few different approaches.

The Direct Approach

Print off a few copies of your CV and try looking in the town centre or the area of your choice, keeping an eye out for vacancies. It’s even worth keeping a copy on a USB drive so you can print it off quickly when you see something interesting.

If you really want to work in a particular place, just go in and ask if they have jobs available. If they don’t, you can always ask them to keep a copy of your CV on file just in case a position does become available.

Always keep an eye out for vacancies, and act fast once you see one. This particularly applies at the start of the summer, when everyone starts looking for a job.

Looking on Campus

The SRC, Unions and University all employ students in a variety of different capacities. While it’s important to keep an eye on all their websites and social media accounts for opportunities, it’s worth checking any noticeboards dotted around in each of these buildings.

The Job Centre

In the past it was possible to visit the jobcentre to view job adverts, the DWP now operate an online search tool called Universal Jobmatch.

You can search for jobs on this without an account. But to apply you need to create an account or sign in. This website is also used by the DWP to keep track of what jobs benefit claimants have applied for.

Useful links:

Universal Jobmatch (DWP jobsearch website)

S1 Jobs (Scotland based search tool)

Monster

Indeed

Total Jobs

Reed

Good Moves (who specialise in third sector jobs)

My Job Scotland (search for Scottish Local Government Jobs)

Employment for Students (search tool aimed at students)

University of Glasgow Careers Service

My World of Work (career planning)