Summer job

AnnaUni

I'm a student, and I'm trying to find a job for when I'm home over the summer, but I'm really not sure where to look. I don't really want to work in a summer camp, or anything that will involve me being away from home. Can anyone suggest any websites where I could look for work? Some people have suggested I sign up with a temping agency, but I don't really understand how that works, so if anyone could explain that, that would be great!
Also, is it best for me to specifically look for summer jobs, or should I just apply for normal jobs and not tell them I'll be leaving at the end of the summer? I don't feel like I should be doing that, but is that the only way I'll find work?

red_bertie

Contact Grafton recruitment - they have a lot of experience fitting jobs to students for the times/places that suit.

AnnaUni

red_bertie wrote: »

Contact Grafton recruitment - they have a lot of experience fitting jobs to students for the times/places that suit.

I've just had a glance at their website, but they only seem to offer things in Ireland.

red_bertie

Oh, I thought they were based throughout UK - sorry, well best I can suggest, is contact one that looks similar in what it offers - or ring them and ask for a recommendation [another agency] in England.

RB

red_bertie

Meant to add, most of these big agencies are geared towards Summer student placement - and Christmas. No point is applying for a permanent job, it will a] !!!! businesses off if you go for interview and then tell them its only temp and b] if you leave after a short time, they might be disinclined to give you a good reference. Also worth directly approaching all the big stores, like Boots, Sainsbury's, they employ temp staff to cover hols and busy times.
Get as many irons in the fire as you can,asap - it quite competitive.

RB

Lakeuk

Go knocking on a few doors around your local area, shops, hotels, pubs, garden centres etc....

3plus1

Hi Anna,

If you're a student, your friends are right, the best option open to you is temping. You'll struggle to get a summer job in most shops because a) you'll definitely leave at the end of the summer and b) when you graduate, you definitely won't come back if you can help it. Temping caters for this.

You don't say where home is? If it's a big city, you'll probably find it has a whole bunch of temping agencies. Some common national ones are Reed, Kelly's and Manpower, although I'd recommend checking out the local ones first if there are any. Unfortunately, that means I can't give you a recommendation unless you live in the same place as me! But do ask around. Do any of your friends/family work in offices in your home town? Where do their companies seem to get most of their temps from?

Generally speaking, to get work through a temping agency, you need to provide a couple of referees, bring a CV with you and do a few tests to prove you can a) turn a computer on and b) type quickly. If you already have experience of working in an office and you can type well, it shouldn't be long before you get offered your first 'assignment'. If you've never really worked before, it'll be longer before your recruitment consultant (this will be your personal contact at the agency) can find you something.

Each 'job' is called an assignment and lasts however long it lasts. I've done assignments ranging from half a day to over three months. The beauty of temping is that you can tell the agency when you want to work, and once they know you're reliable, they'll find you work during those dates.

Due to the nature of the job, temps tend to get paid weekly in arrears rather than monthly. Works out quite well for the old cashflow.

If you go out on assignment and the client company hate you, you can get asked to not come back the next day (rare, but it does happen - never happened to me personally but I've seen it). Equally though, if you hate the client company, you can leave as soon as the agency have found someone to replace you.

Some people think it's not a secure way of living/earning money, but it brings so much freedom. I'd definitely recommend temping. I've got a full time typical graduate job now, but I actually miss temping sometimes - ignore the people full of negative comments about it.

By the way, once you've registered, it's up to you to keep calling the agency to see if there's any suitable work. Once you've built up a reputation, it's the agency who will call you, but in the beginning, you call them so often you feel like you're pestering them. Takes getting used to, but it's the norm.

Good luck job hunting.

AnnaUni

3plus1 wrote: »

Hi Anna,

If you're a student, your friends are right, the best option open to you is temping. You'll struggle to get a summer job in most shops because a) you'll definitely leave at the end of the summer and b) when you graduate, you definitely won't come back if you can help it. Temping caters for this.

You don't say where home is? If it's a big city, you'll probably find it has a whole bunch of temping agencies. Some common national ones are Reed, Kelly's and Manpower, although I'd recommend checking out the local ones first if there are any. Unfortunately, that means I can't give you a recommendation unless you live in the same place as me! But do ask around. Do any of your friends/family work in offices in your home town? Where do their companies seem to get most of their temps from?

Generally speaking, to get work through a temping agency, you need to provide a couple of referees, bring a CV with you and do a few tests to prove you can a) turn a computer on and b) type quickly. If you already have experience of working in an office and you can type well, it shouldn't be long before you get offered your first 'assignment'. If you've never really worked before, it'll be longer before your recruitment consultant (this will be your personal contact at the agency) can find you something.

Each 'job' is called an assignment and lasts however long it lasts. I've done assignments ranging from half a day to over three months. The beauty of temping is that you can tell the agency when you want to work, and once they know you're reliable, they'll find you work during those dates.

Due to the nature of the job, temps tend to get paid weekly in arrears rather than monthly. Works out quite well for the old cashflow.

If you go out on assignment and the client company hate you, you can get asked to not come back the next day (rare, but it does happen - never happened to me personally but I've seen it). Equally though, if you hate the client company, you can leave as soon as the agency have found someone to replace you.

Some people think it's not a secure way of living/earning money, but it brings so much freedom. I'd definitely recommend temping. I've got a full time typical graduate job now, but I actually miss temping sometimes - ignore the people full of negative comments about it.

By the way, once you've registered, it's up to you to keep calling the agency to see if there's any suitable work. Once you've built up a reputation, it's the agency who will call you, but in the beginning, you call them so often you feel like you're pestering them. Takes getting used to, but it's the norm.

Good luck job hunting.

Thanks, that's really really helpful! I'm in the Newcastle/Durham area. Is there any point in me contacting agencies whilst at uni, or will they want to see me in person once I'm actually home? Also, from the agencies point of view, do they mind how long I'll be temping for (just a couple of months) and do you think they would be happy for me to temp for a couple of months, then go back to uni, then have me temp again at christmas/easter?

3plus1

AnnaUni wrote: »

Thanks, that's really really helpful! I'm in the Newcastle/Durham area. Is there any point in me contacting agencies whilst at uni, or will they want to see me in person once I'm actually home? Also, from the agencies point of view, do they mind how long I'll be temping for (just a couple of months) and do you think they would be happy for me to temp for a couple of months, then go back to uni, then have me temp again at christmas/easter?

Hmm, you'd probably have more luck in Newcastle than Durham. I know there's an Office Angels there, but I don't have any experience of them so can't recommend personally.

If you've never temped for a particular agency before, there's not much point giving them advance notice. You'll be registered, but you'll have no experience and no availability. I think they'd be more likely to forget you.

Better idea to go sign up and register when you're able to work, and if all goes well, give the agency a call the week before your Christmas holidays start to let them know you're back in the area and available soon.

I don't think an agency would have a problem with you working your uni holidays - that's pretty much what they expect of students! It can be quite handy, because your holidays will coincide with a lot of office workers' holidays and you can provide short term cover.

AnnaUni

3plus1 wrote: »

Hmm, you'd probably have more luck in Newcastle than Durham. I know there's an Office Angels there, but I don't have any experience of them so can't recommend personally.

If you've never temped for a particular agency before, there's not much point giving them advance notice. You'll be registered, but you'll have no experience and no availability. I think they'd be more likely to forget you.

Better idea to go sign up and register when you're able to work, and if all goes well, give the agency a call the week before your Christmas holidays start to let them know you're back in the area and available soon.

I don't think an agency would have a problem with you working your uni holidays - that's pretty much what they expect of students! It can be quite handy, because your holidays will coincide with a lot of office workers' holidays and you can provide short term cover.

Thanks again One last question - is my best option to physically go into their office? Or give them a call? Or join their agency online?

red_bertie

:j That's a very comprehensive answer 3plus1. Annauni - good luck.

RB