Where to find work

There are many avenues to finding part-time work around York as well as on campus jobs. Be sure to be on the lookout for more speculative opportunities that you may be able to get through your own network.

The types of jobs that tend to be popular with students are usually in retail and hospitality, for example working at a fast food restaurant, clothing store or as a waiter. Home students can also take on self-employed work whilst studying, however international students on a student visa are not allowed to take on any self-employed work.

Making use of University resources

One of our recent blog posts introduced you to Handshake, the University’s careers platform. As well as using Handshake to book careers appointments or search for graduate jobs and schemes, you can also find part-time work in the York area on Handshake. Employers looking to employ students as campus brand managers/ambassadors will also be advertising on Handshake.

The University itself also employs students as Student Ambassadors (undergraduate, postgraduate and international students) and YuCall Student Fundraisers. Meanwhile YUSU also advertises jobs such as working as part of YUSU directly or in bars and eateries on campus.

Part time work in York

You may be able to find work in the York area by using general job sites such as Indeed, Totaljobs or Reed or through student oriented job sites like StudentJob. However, many part-time jobs may not be advertised online and instead can be found in shop windows or through word of mouth. You may also be able to find work through friends and acquaintances. 

Companies may advertise jobs on social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter as well as their own websites. Also you may be able to find Facebook groups for students looking for work in York. You can also search the hashtag #YorkJobs on Twitter for vacancies in York.

Recruitment agencies are also a great way of finding temporary or seasonal work however, agency work may be inconsistent. You can find local agencies specialising in the kind of work you are looking for on Agency Central.

How to find work

Here are some of the steps you need to take to find part time work

1. Having the correct documents – NI number for all students planning to work in the UK and right to work documents for international students.
2. Updating your CV – Making sure your CV is up to date and reflective of your skills and abilities. If you need help with your CV, you can use CareerSet, an AI tool that scores your CV and gives instant feedback on how to improve.
3. Planning and practice – Start looking for work early and be intentional about what roles you want to apply for and how they fit into your studies and lifestyle. Be sure to practise your interviewing skills as well. You can use Shortlist.Me to try mock video interviews to help you become more confident. 

Other tips to find part time work

Students with no previous experience may find it a bit more difficult to find work immediately, however you can use examples from your experiences volunteering and in education to show off transferable skills such as communication, time management, flexibility and a willingness to learn. Other forms of part time work may require little or no experience as you will be able to learn or be trained on the job. 

Students should also be aware that in the run up to Christmas time, a lot of employers will be looking to take on seasonal/temporary workers to meet increased demand. Whilst Christmas vacancies tend to be very common in retail and hospitality, other kinds of employers will be looking to hire temporary staff to support tasks that current staff may not be able to finish in time for the new year. Applications for Christmas vacancies are usually advertised from September onward so now is a great time to start applying.
For more information relating to part time work, visit the ‘Working While You Study’ page on the Careers and Placements website.