Job while at Uni

lolly5648

My son has just been accepted for an IT course at Greenwich. He is a bit of a computer geek and has no idea of the real world and the value of money. He has applied for a student loan and seems to think that will cover everything, course, halls, food etc. Tried telling him the facts of life and that he needs to get a job if he wants to have any sort of social life etc but it is falling on deaf ears.

I dont know anything about the sort of jobs students get while at Uni - can anyone suggest places where he can apply. I think he would be better doing something in a warehouse rather than working with customers. Are there any chains that take on university students?

Any help would be gratefully received

pavlovs_dog

its a piece of string question really - it all depends on the type of work he would be interested in.

the uni will probably have a careers centre/jobshop which will help students find work either on campus, or with some companies in the wider community.

he has the option of approaching companies directly (in which case national companies are good, because they will *hopefully* allow him to transfer to your local store when he comes home for holidays).

or perhaps he might be able to use his computer skills to earn a living by working for himself?

hth :beer:

skippie

Employers put a lot of pressure on students to work ever longer hours, you need to make sure that if he does get a job, that it does not compromise his studies (or dare i say a little social time)

Universities advice students working anything over 20 hours a week, but prefere students to work (if they have to) 10-15 hours per week.

sali_mali

One of my friends at Uni (Liverpool) is a complete computer genius and he's employed by the university's computer fixer team people (whatever they're called!) He's paid pretty well and because it's the university and he's a student, then he's only allowed to work a maximum of 16 hours a week (or maybe it was 20). Also, they're very understanding at exam time.

Dan29

sali_mali wrote:

he's employed by the university's computer fixer team people (whatever they're called!)

The IT department?

Snow_Angel

lolly5648 wrote:

He has applied for a student loan and seems to think that will cover everything, course, halls, food etc.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sorry.....that's just hilarious. Please let him read this board and some of the threads on here related to how desperate and debt-ridden people are.

Sit him down in front of a desk with budget planner - excellent one on this website, which he'll like as it's computer based! (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1089226742,17582,#planner) - then see what he comes up with. Then keep YOUR food receipts for a week, show him some gas and electricity bills etc and (probably) have to re-do the budget planner.....that'll soon sort him out!

md_14uk

I worked at NEXT during my time at uni. They were very flexible interms of hours. At the start of every term our manager put a timetable on the notice board and asked people to state when they were available to work. I had a four hour contract but often worked 8-12 hours when I was available.

They have a lot of people behind the scenes at NEXT and other retailers so there are bound to be jobs in the warehousing. Sept - Oct is also a good time to get into retail as they are recruiting for the christmas period. Usually they'll give you a temporary contract to be reviewed in early January so if it's not for you then you can walk away!

nives316

I worked in a call centre and it was horrible but it was only a few shifts a week ..... also worked in a bar and that was great fun .... just have to look for part time jobs ....

to work 10 or so hours a week makes the time you do have free alot more enjoyable ...

The_doomed

never worked there myself... but next employ loads of students and have a stock team so not all are customer facing.

currys etc too also have stock teams.

ikea.

all large retailers....

djhworld

The only problem with getting a job while at University is not your son, it's the employer.

Finished my first year last year, applied to 10 different places and was outright refused. Why? Because I'm a student. Employers aren't interested in part-time workers who swan off home come Christmas time.

Back at home I got a job (temporary contract) at Tesco, I won't be able to get a transfer come September due to my contract, but hopefully the Tesco up there will take me on as I have training and experience in the job.

Moral of the story? Stick with the supermarkets, it's the only real job prospect your son will have.

The_doomed

djhworld wrote:

Moral of the story? Stick with the supermarkets, it's the only real job prospect your son will have.

nonesense. i know loads of students who have worked throughout uni and had time off for xmas etc.

be it pubs, general retail, admin, IT basically anything...
Part of employment is that you make a commitment to the employer, generally they will make a commitment back to you.