Happy new year to everyone from everyone here at UK Part Time Jobs. 2015 was a busy year where we offered lots of tips and advice about part time jobs; how to get them, how to keep them and even, when the time arises, how to leave them. We also started to give some more in-depth tips on the types of part time jobs out there within a particular field and the kinds of people those types of jobs might suit.
Throughout 2016, we will be offering more advice in these articles about the world of part time work. But before we go off charging into the year ahead, we are going to take this opportunity to take a look back at the articles of 2015 so that you can refresh your memory on some of the topics we have addressed and, if need be, go back to reread the relevant articles. Indeed, perhaps you completely missed an article first time round so now is the chance to grab that bit of information you could need that might help you.
So, let’s go back and look at those articles:
Do you find job interviews difficult?
Lots of people, when they are applying for part time work, get to the interview stage and then falter at that hurdle either because they are too nervous to answer questions or, a lack of technique means the applicant is not offering the answers the employer is necessarily looking for.
Our article, How To Shine In Part Time Job Interviews was written in early 2015 and offers lots of valuable hints and tips about not only surviving the interview but making it successful so that you land that part time job.
The article is split into different, shorter sections and deals with:
- Preparation for the interview – The benefits of researching the company you have applied to, anticipating some possible interview questions (there are suggestions for potential questions in the article), and also rehearsing the interview.
- Arrival at the interview – A job interview is not just about answering questions. Our article gives tips about first impressions on arrival such as wearing suitable clothing and timing issues. Who wants to employ a candidate who rolls up late, looking dishevelled and unprepared?
- During the interview – It’s not just about offering the right answers to the questions but also how you go about it. How is your demeanour? Will the interviewers think you are comfortable, confident and friendly (even if you feel like a bag of nerves, inside)? It’s also about remembering that it is perfectly okay to ask for clarification if you are unsure what a question means or if you misheard. This shows you are listening as well as talking.
- Closing off the interview – Yes, while you might want to end the interview as quickly as possible and get out of there, don’t fall at the last hurdle. Our article gives a couple of tips of how to round off your interview and impress the interviewers by asking any questions about the company or the job you are applying for. Again, there are some suggestions for questions provided in the article.
- After the interview – Your interview doesn’t end once you walk out of the door. Don’t just forget about it. Whilst you don’t want to appear over keen, if you don’t hear anything from the company, there is no harm in getting back in touch to follow up your application. This could either help you land the job or, if you have been unsuccessful on this occasion, you can ask for feedback about the reasons why and use this to prepare for future interviews. Practise makes perfect.
The Joys (Or Not) Of Social Media
Social media has been around for long enough for us all to realise its pros and cons. This article highlighted the pitfalls of social media when you are applying for part time jobs. If you have the type of Facebook or Instagram profile that shows you partying the night away, every night, for example, you might want to tone it down for job applications.
The article gives tips about checking your privacy settings and adjusting them so your potential employer can only see what you want them to see. It also offer a few ideas as to how you can make social media work for you both in applying for part time jobs and progressing your career, if that is what you want to do.
Social media should be used as a positive rather than a negative when it comes to finding part time work and if you want to see how you can leverage your time on your favourite social media platforms, check out our article, Why Did I Put That On Facebook?
Why Should I Get A Part Time Job?
It’s an understandable question, isn’t it. Why should you bother going out to work part time if, depending on your circumstances, you can get more from staying at home and claiming benefits?
Well, there are actually lots of benefits to working part time and this article addressed some of those benefits. As well as giving you the chance to earn your own money, part time jobs also have the following attractions:
- They give you flexibility if you have commitments. For example, you might have childcare commitments, perhaps you are a carer or maybe you are studying for a qualification or looking to go self-employed. If you have decided to address your work life balance, part time work also offers you the opportunity to do that, too.
- Part time jobs help you fill in gaps in your CV – If you have been out of work for a while, for whatever reason, part time jobs can help you fill in those gaps in your CV so that future employers can see what you have been up to. You can also display evidence of transferable skills that you have picked up during any work you have done..
- Good for your self-esteem – Again, if you have been out of work for a while or you are new to an area, for example, working part time can get you out of the house and do wonders for your self-esteem.
- You can meet different people – And there aren’t many easier ways of meeting new people and making friends then finding yourself some part time work.
All of these tips and more are explained in more detail in the article about why you should get a part time job.
How To Survive Your First Day In Your Part Time Job
We’ve all had those first day nerves, whether it’s a first day at work or school. Anything unfamiliar and our brains go into overdrive, thinking about what might be. This article is all about getting you through that first day in your part time job with as few hiccups as possible.
- We begin at the beginning, right from that phone call or email to say you have got the job and give you some tips about the types of questions to ask so that you are prepared when it comes to actually arriving for work.
- On the day: Then we give you tips about what to do before you set off for work and arriving in good time to start your day or evening.
- In the workplace, your first day at work also needs you to be accepting of any help offered – even where you think you might not need it. There are lots of suggestions in the article about questions you can ask of your boss and colleagues and appropriate ways of addressing people in the workplace.
Do You Think You Have Got What It Takes To Hold Down More Than One Part Time Job?
Lots of people work multiple part time jobs either out of financial necessity or because they like the flexibility. Some people actually thrive from working multiple part time jobs rather than having one full time job!
Do you think you might be one of these people? If so, and you are liking the idea of having more than one job, there are a few points you need to take into consideration and our article addresses some of those points. For example:
- How to hold down more than one part time job – a diary (paper or online), a tracker and a timetable are all going to be necessary. You can read why in the article.
- You are going to need to be open with your bosses. Don’t hide the fact you have got more than one job.
- The pros and cons of multiple part time jobs – because they both exist. The pros are, you will have more money, you will get to wear different heads rather than being the office person all the time or the waiting on staff all the time. There is no big disaster if you are made redundant from one of your jobs and you will also have a broader skill set.
- The Cons – Actually, the cons don’t need to be cons if you can sit down and be honest with yourself. You have got to know your limits – don’t burn yourself out. And with that comes knowing when to be strong with your bosses – you can’t just accept a couple of extra hours here and there, otherwise you will be left with no time for yourself. Make sure you treat yourself occasionally and make sure the jobs you accept are within easy reach of each other.
- Tax advice – If you are wondering what the tax implications might be for working more than one part time job, our article also has useful links to help you out in that department.
Would You Like To Leave Your Part Time Job Gracefully?
There are various reasons why people need to leave their part time position at one time or another. It might be that you are unhappy with your job, it might be that you just have other commitments, or you might have had a better offer from elsewhere, for example. Whatever the reasons for you wanting to leave your post, there are ways to go about this – and there are ways not to go about this.
So our article about handing in your notice for your part time job is full of advice about:
- How not to leave your part time job – Don’t just walk out in the heat of the moment, for a start. Once you have cooled down, you might regret your actions that happened on the spur of the moment.
- How to leave the part time job gracefully – If you go about leaving your part time role in the right way, following the correct procedures, you can pave the way for a great reference and good relations with your old boss and colleagues in the future. Check your contract to see what is required of you and so you can make sure you giving the correct amount of notice. Speak with the manager or the boss in person, rather than just leaving a letter on their desk and running away. Be prepared for a counter offer – well, if you are good at your job, your boss will want you to stay around. Check out our article for further practical tips so that everyone is happy.
- Our article also gives you a couple of tips about entitlements and the paperwork you should receive when you do leave your part time job.
Are You From Overseas?
If you are from overseas and are in the United Kingdom for a while, you might like the idea of doing some part time work whilst you are here. If so, then this article is for you. The article outlines the following:
- The types of part time jobs that might suit overseas visitors.
- Advantages of working part time for overseas visitors – There is a lot to be gained from finding work when you are in a country that is not your own. As well as earning some money to fund your time in the country, a part time job of whatever type can mean you will learn about and experience a whole new work culture. Naturally, when you are are working, you are going to meet new people, some of whom might become good friends. You will learn different work skills that can be transferred to future workplaces and make yourself more employable elsewhere. And, of course, if English is not your first language, you will definitely improve your English language skills, again, making yourself more employable in the future.
- Do you qualify to work in the UK? Importantly, our article also offers some useful links so that you can see if you are eligible to work in the United Kingdom.
Do You Like The Idea Of Working Outdoors?
Not all of us relish the idea of part time office work or being in warehouses and factories for example. Being outside in the fresh air is much more appealing. Working outdoors comes with its pros and cons – we all know what the Great British weather can be like, don’t we – so this article looks at some of the advantages and disadvantages to doing part time jobs whilst being exposed to the elements.
And for those of you who are determined to work outdoors, whether just for temporary summer jobs or on a more permanent basis, we give you some ideas of the types of outdoor jobs you can do. Some of these jobs are entry level jobs for those with little or no previous work experience and others might require specific qualifications. From farm jobs to theme park jobs to security work, take a look at our ideas for working outdoors.
In-depth Article On Part Time And Seasonal Farm Jobs And Fruit Picking Jobs
Following our article packed with top tips for the types of part time and temporary or seasonal work you can do outdoors, we started to look more closely at each of those jobs. So if you think working outdoors on a farm or doing fruit picking might be for you, then take a look in more detail about what might be required of you in different farm types of farm work.
The main point to bear in mind is, despite some roles requiring specialised experience, whatever type of farm work or fruit picking jobs you do, you need to physically fit, organised and also safety aware.
Take a look at our in-depth article about the different types of part time and seasonal farm and fruit picking jobs out there and the traits and skills you might need to do the work.
Would You Like To Know More About Part Time And Seasonal Tour Guide Jobs?
This is another type of part time work for those who would like to work outdoors. The article is more detailed look at the role of the tour guide, including their main duties and the pros and cons of the job. So, if you want to know more about:
- What is a tour guide?
- What types of hours do part time tour guides work?
- What types of tours do tour guides run?
- What qualifications are needed and where do you get them from?
- What are the wages like?
…then read our detailed article about part time and seasonal tour guide jobs and you could soon be leading your own groups around towns and cities and other places of interest.
Are You A Parent Looking For Part Time Work?
There are lots of issues for parents who are looking to get back into the world of work such as being able to find quality work. Some parents want to go back to their previous careers but find many part time jobs out there are either low in number or low paid. Many parents would love the opportunity to be able to work remotely, too. But there are also lots of advantages to part time work for mums. Our article, addressing parenthood and part time work looks at these issues and the pros and cons of part time jobs.
For example, the advantages to working part time as a parent, rather than going back to work on a full time basis are:
- You get to spend valuable time with your young family.
- Working part time means you have little or no childcare fees to pay out.
- Depending on the type of part time work you are looking for, you might have more choice over jobs.
- Part time jobs often come with more flexible hours than full time jobs. Perfect for parents with small children.
- A part time job can keep you in touch with the world of work whilst your children are small. You can keep your skills up to date and also show work experience on your CV in the future.
- And, if you want a complete break from your previous career before you started a family, part time jobs can also fund you and provide you with some key skills so that you can retrain in a whole new field.
If you are a parent and are thinking about taking on some part time work, read our article for more information and tips.
Looking To Do Seasonal Work Over The Christmas Period?
As the festive season approaches, lots of companies take on extra seasonal staff to cover the busy periods. Some of these companies start to recruit after summer so you need to be organised and think ahead. Other companies will recruit as and when. Whatever type of Christmas seasonal work you are looking to do, our article about top tips for Christmas jobs covers everything from the more traditional types of Christmas work to the more weird and whacky roles you could take on. Well, if you can’t have fun seasonal jobs at Christmas, when can you have them?
So, don’t just wait for the 2016 festive season to arrive. Read our article about seasonal jobs at Christmas, decide what type of job you would like to do and get your CV ready so that you are ready to apply for those competitive Christmas jobs when they arise.
Thanks a lot for reading our articles so far. We hope you find them useful in your search for part time work. If you are looking for vacancies in your area or in a particular field, take a look at our current part time vacancies right now. We are looking forward to offering more advice and articles throughout 2016.