Student Jobs and Volunteering

Many students will look to earn money by undertaking part-time employment alongside studies and/or through casual seasonal work during vacations.

Often this work is not related to future career goals (as an internship or work placement might be) but it can be a good way of earning extra cash to supplement student loans.

Student jobs are not only a good way of earning extra money but can also significantly enhance your CV by developing many skills graduate employers value such as team working, customer service, initiative and time management to name but a few.

Whilst part-time work can be beneficial it is important to be realistic about the number of hours you work to ensure there is no adverse effect on your studies.

There are many places to look for opportunities

University supported

Unitemps: Can help you secure part-time and temporary work on and off campus.
Surrey Pathfinder: Click ‘Opportunities’. Under Opportunity Type, try selecting part-time, vacation and volunteering.
University of Surrey Students' Union Job Portal: Jobs with the Students’ Union.

Local job opportunities

Employment for Students: Term time jobs and Vacation Work.
Experience Guildford: Job vacancies in all sorts of retailers and restaurants.
Find a Job: Government run job search website covering the whole of the UK.
Fish 4 Jobs: Local jobs in the Guildford area.
Friary Shopping Centre: Guildford based.
Gumtree: Local jobs in the Guildford area.
Indeed: Local and national jobs.
On Campus Promotions: Work part-time as a brand ambassador for leading companies.
Scattergoods: Local hospitality and catering jobs.
Student Job: Part-time jobs, weekend jobs, summer jobs etc.

Previous part time jobs fair organisations who recruited students

Hospitality and events agencies

A number of agencies and businesses offer temporary hospitality and events work at live events including race meetings and other major sporting fixtures:

Recruitment agencies

There are a number of recruitment agencies in Guildford that may provide part-time and temporary work. To search for suitable agencies use:

Direct approach to employers

Shops, bars and restaurants often have vacancies for part-time shop assistants and waiting staff. They are often happy to accept speculative approaches.

Many retail companies recruit additional staff for the Christmas period from early autumn – look out for advertisements in stores.

Unpaid work experience

Some employers offer unpaid work experience.

Please note: There are particular rules which apply to unpaid work experience and the work an employer can ask you to undertake before they are obliged to pay you the minimum wage.

Find out more here: Employment rights and pay for interns

Volunteering

Another good way to gain experience is through volunteer opportunities with charities and voluntary organisations.

As the name suggests, these are generally unpaid opportunities but can provide you with valuable work experience that also benefits a good cause.

A wide range of opportunities can be found locally and nationally:

Charity Job: Volunteer opportunities with charities.
Citizens Advice
Do It: Opportunities throughout the UK.
Surrey Volunteering: Local volunteer opportunities.

Additional information

National minimum wage and national living wage

Almost all workers in the UK are legally entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for the work they do.

Check eligibility for the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage here.

Find out more about the rate of pay you may be entitled to here.

Getting a national insurance (NI) number

You will need to obtain a NI number if you wish to work in the UK.

You can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you can apply for one online.

If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), you might have a National Insurance number already - it will be printed on the back of your BRP if you do.

Making sure opportunities are genuine

When looking for work please be aware that most websites will not vet or fully research the practices of the employers that advertise with them.

Wherever you see a vacancy advertised (even if it is through our vacancy service), make sure you are happy with the terms of employment, rate of pay etc.

It is important to realise that you do not have to accept any offer of work. If you have any concerns, you can seek advice from:

Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Finally

Don’t forget we are always happy to help you with every aspect of your career planning and development, wherever you are in your journey. If you are unclear about where to start or what to focus on first, just make an appointment with a Careers Consultant via Surrey Pathfinder and we can help you develop a plan for moving forward.

Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion careers resources to find out more about diversity initiatives, employer perspectives and support at Surrey.

If you would like more information, visit MySurrey Help to find answers to the most common questions and details on how to ask us a question if you require more support.