Holiday jobs and 'balance'

Getting a part-time job during term-time has a lot more advantages than the obvious money-related ones. I found that, although it's not a chance to relax, it is a break from studying all the same. It also allows you to meet new people, who aren't necessarily students, and I found it particularly useful in my first year to get an older person's perspective of Birmingham. Be aware that the University of Birmingham recommends working no more than 16 hours per week and I'm sure the other universities in Birmingham have similar recommendations.

There are lots of different types of appropriate work available to students during term-time including shop work, bar & club work, waitressing, promo work and tutoring. Tutoring normally pays a good wage, although hours can be short. Bar and club work can be found easily all over the city, the best thing to do is just to ring bars and clubs and see what they've got available. The down side to bar work is unsociable hours, including having to travel home in the middle of the night and wages can be a little on the low side.

There are lots of recruitment websites out there but my experience has always been that they're more trouble than they're worth. You spend ages and ages trawling them for local vacancies but a lot aren't very student-friendly and are unwilling to adapt hours to suit lectures. By far the best place to find a suitable job is your University's job centre, The University of Birmingham's 'Jobzone' is excellent. All jobs that advertise in the 'Jobzone' have been vetted to ensure they pay above minimum wage, are equal opportunities employers and offer no more than 16 hours per week.

There are several employment agencies in the city centre, situated on the small roads off New Street which lead to the Cathedral. It's much easier to meet face-to-face with someone to discuss what you need and the kinds of jobs that would suit you as a student. A lot of these agencies offer temp work which can be competitive at first, but once they've heard positive feedback about you, agencies are keen to contact you again and again. Temping is particularly good for students as you're not committed to anything so if you've got too much Uni work to do one week, you can just opt not to do any shifts.

During my second year, I found a job working for the University as a 'Student Ambassador' I showed prospective students around the campus, visited local schools and talked to parents and teachers. This job was very flexible and enjoyable. A lot of University departments employ people to do similar things for them, talking especially about their course and what they enjoy about it.

Holiday jobs

Even for those who choose not to work during term-time, working during the holidays is a must in my opinion. The money you earn during the holidays can make a huge difference during term-time and can render term-time jobs unnecessary. Finding full-time working during the holidays is proving to be more and more difficult so apply early and keep trying! I am lucky enough to be able to go back to the same job I've had since I was 16, although this summer I secured a couple of months at a new job as well. Finding a few waitressing or shop shifts over the Christmas break is normally quite easy at home or in Birmingham, again competition is high though and making lots of applications is the key.

A lot of students choose to stay in Birmingham over the Easter or even the summer holidays to either continue in jobs they started during term time or pick up something else. Although I imagine most people would prefer to go home for the Christmas period, if you're interested in staying in Birmingham then the pubs, restaurants and shops in Birmingham do take on additional staff. Also check out places such as Edgbaston Cricket Club, the ICC and other places who run Christmas events and parties.

If you're applying directly to an employer rather than through an agency or job centre, be sure to check employment conditions, pay and hours carefully before signing contracts or agreeing shifts. Beware of hidden costs such as uniform or transport and remember to stick to your university's recommended maximum hours. Currently, national minimum wage for those under 22 is £4.60 per hour (£5.52 for 22 and over) and, legally, you must have a break of 20 minutes every 6 hours.

Balance

You're time at university is, ultimately, about your degree and about having fun. A job can and will add to this as long you achieve a balance between employment, enjoyment and education. If you don't need to get a job right away then going half a term without one may be a good idea so that you can decide how much time you are willing to give up to earn money. Similarly, if you do have a job and find it's getting too much (especially after Easter when revision and exams will be very much taking over your life) then don't be afraid to leave if your employer is not willing to adapt hours to suit you. Birmingham is, after all, British's second largest city and you can always find another job in September.