Our Top Tips for Finding Part-Time Jobs and Side-Hustles as a Uni Student

About the author: Hi! My name is Jarisse Nunez, a Business Management with Marketing student at the University of Leeds. I am an aspiring marketer who loves all things creative. Outside of my studies, I enjoy keeping memories in my scrapbook, staying active through yoga and going to concerts!

One thing that almost every uni student struggles with is managing to maintain their finances whilst balancing their studies and social life at the same time. We need to factor in rent, food shops, coffee catch ups, nights out… all whilst keeping up with our lectures and seminars.

And even though we have the opportunity to receive maintenance loans from Student Finance, this may not always be enough to cover all expenses and many of us need to think of alternative ways to get extra cash.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities for us students to earn some money while at uni. During my time at university so far, I have found many different part-time jobs and side hustles to help me with living expenses, so I'll be sharing my top tips here!

Use your university's careers page 👩‍💻

First things first, utilise your university’s careers site! At the University of Leeds, we have a dedicated student employment service, Joblink, which posts a variety of part-time, flexible, temporary and casual jobs. Their aim is to make the job hunt easier and more accessible for students, and this is a great starting point as the roles listed are aimed directly at students.

Additionally, positions such as student ambassador roles are often listed on these sites. Uni ambassadors are always needed throughout the year, especially during open days and offer holder days, so these are easy jobs for students to apply for.

Search for casual/part-time/flexible jobs 🔍

If you're looking on job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn, make sure to use words such as “‘casual”, “part-time” or “flexible”, as these jobs are most suited for students who are studying full-time at uni. It's usually recommended that students work no more than 15-20 hours a week; these roles can therefore easily fit into our busy uni schedules.

Seasonal and festive roles are also ideal for students during term breaks. These are often posted in the run-up to busy retail and hospitality periods such as Christmas and the summer holidays, so make sure you apply around these times!

Network, network, network! 💬

As a university student, you’ll probably hear this word A LOT – however, networking can be a great skill to use when job hunting. Through networking, I have been able to meet industry professionals, gain valuable insight, and even secure a summer internship! It also helps you develop skills in communication and confidence in building genuine connections.

You can attend networking events at university job fairs, sit in on guest lectures, or connect with professionals through LinkedIn… you never know what opportunity can arise through these connections!

Build your experience through volunteering 🙋

Most of the time, employers say no to hiring us because we have “no experience”, but how are we meant to develop experience if we’re not given the opportunity to?

In most cases, we need to build our experience from scratch, and one way in doing so can be through volunteering; giving your free time to charities and non-profit organisations can be really fulfilling and can help build your experience whilst connecting with the wider community.

In my first year, I volunteered for a charity shop where I gained retail skills and even contributed to developing their social media content by creating and editing reels. This opportunity allowed me to support the local community whilst meeting new people and develop practical skills.

Be creative! 🎨

Have a skill or hobby? Why not turn it into a side hustle! Sometimes using your own unique skills can be a brilliant way to earn money – this could be through tutoring, starting a small business, or becoming a TikTok influencer. This is a great skill to boost your CV, showing employers your creative and entrepreneurial mindset.

UniHomes Content Ambassador programme 💙

Love writing and need the extra cash? Why not become a UniHomes Content Ambassador and write exciting blog posts each month!

As a Content Ambassador, you’ll have the opportunity to write about uni life from your own lens as a student, with topics each month ranging from student nightlife to the best places to eat in your city.

Having been on the programme for almost a year, it's been a great way to develop my writing skills whilst earning extra pocket money!

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Our UniHomes Content Ambassadors are current students across the UK who share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. If you're interested in writing for our programme, click here for more details.

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.