We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Job while at Uni

Options
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
«1

Comments

  • pavlovs_dog
    pavlovs_dog Posts: 10,215 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    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:
    know thyself
    Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus...
  • skippie
    skippie Posts: 91 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    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.
    Original 35 year mortgage: January 2016, £306,000
    January 2022 : £198,000 (£30k saving pot split equally between cash and alternative investments)

    January 2022: 2x £3k child ISA.
  • sali_mali
    sali_mali Posts: 1,967 Forumite
    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.
    Total abstinence is so excellent a thing that it cannot be carried to too great an extent. In my passion for it I even carry it so far as to totally abstain from total abstinence itself. Oscar Wilde
  • Dan29
    Dan29 Posts: 4,767 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    sali_mali wrote:
    he's employed by the university's computer fixer team people (whatever they're called!)

    The IT department? :grin:
    .
  • Snow_Angel
    Snow_Angel Posts: 764 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    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! :D
  • md_14uk
    md_14uk Posts: 477 Forumite
    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
    nives316 Posts: 182 Forumite
    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
    The_doomed Posts: 261 Forumite
    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
    djhworld Posts: 221 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    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.
    Can I afford to buy? Mortgage Affordability Calculator

    https://caniaffordtobuy.co.uk/
  • The_doomed
    The_doomed Posts: 261 Forumite
    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.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.