Once that student loan hits your account, it’s temping to go and spend it all on a massive shopping spree.. but you’ll soon find out that if you don’t budget your student loan won’t even get you past the first two weeks!

At which point you might decide it is time to get a part-time job alongside your studies for extra money, or just for some work experience. Here are Unifresher’s top tips for finding some extra work.

Why should you get a part-time job?

As outlined before your student loan nearly always never lasts as long as you hope it will! We find a lot of students discover they could do with some extra cash alongside there student loan.

The extra cash aside, it is also great to gain some experience at university, with some strong transferable skills for when you graduate and are looking for a full-time job. Employers tend to favour students who have gained some experience.

It’s also a great way to meet other students and make new friends!

So what jobs are out there for students?

Fortunately for you, students have lots of choice when it comes to which jobs to get. Although you’ll need to act quickly to secure the most desirable.

Student union roles are really good because these can fit around your studies and are super flexible. Jobs range from SU bar work to working in the campus shop. To secure jobs with the student union, it’s best to ask as early as possible, even before you start!

If you have some previous experience and are looking for a more creative role, then working for your student radio station or your uni’s magazine or SU website might be the perfect fit for you. Speak to someone at your university or search online to get in early.

If the above roles are unavailable or you would like to look outside of your university, then you have all the classic part-time jobs, such as retail, bar work, restaurant work or hospitality positions. You’ll need to explain that your a student and you’ll need shifts that fit around your studies. Usually most employers will understand but to make it easier for them you should provide your availability upfront.

So now you’ve decide you need a part-time role, where can you find them and how do you apply?

For work outside of your university, you can search online or head into town with your CV and ask in person (some employers love this, especially for a part-time role. It also gives you a chance to show your personality).

It might be worth paying a visit to your uni’s careers service who can help you to get your CV right before you hand them out. Sometimes the best places to look are the independent cafe or shops. A lot of students will automatically head to the big stores first so going to independents might give you more success. Also, the larger stores tend to have a recruitment process and might point you to apply online via their recruitment portal.

If you don’t have linkedin, then it’s time to set one up. You can search and apply for a range of jobs directly on the platform! It also allows recruiters to approach you with any opportunities. It’s great if you specify on your profile that your looking for a part-time job so employers know to reach out to you.

You can also apply for jobs online with the classic job sites, such as Monster, Indeed, Reed.

Alternatively, if you already had a job with a bigger chain within your hometown, then it’s worth asking whether you can transfer the role to a store near your university. 9/10 they will be able to do this and saves you having to get competitive with other jobs.

What are the alternative jobs to all the traditional roles?

If you have a specific skill, then you could freelance to get some extra cash at university. This is flexible and allows you to choose your own hours.

You will need to bear in mind that you’ll need to register as self-employed with HMRC and complete a self-assessment tax return at the end of the year. However, your uni will have support that can help you with this.

Some freelancer opportunities can be graphic design, web development, photographer, tutoring or brand ambassadors. There are lots of freelancer websites out there that you can compete for these roles. Some of these websites include:

Getting work experience

If your not desperate for some extra cash and instead want to focus on gaining experience then you could consider a voluntary placement to boost your CV and gain a head start.

Work placements and internships are great if you know what you want to do when you leave uni. it also gives you a foot in the door. You can search for vacancies online or reach out to a potential company you would want to work for. Most companies will love some extra help and it’s a great way for you to gain some contacts in the industry.