Many students, particularly those staying away from their family, will find they need to get a part time job to ensure they can make ends meet and treat themselves while studying.
In fact, a study by the US Department of Education found that 43% of full-time students and 81% of part-time students will have a job sometime while at university. Balancing this work with studies can be tricky, however, and as such there are some jobs that are simply better suited to the average student than others. As an added bonus, there are also some jobs that actually prefer to hire students and finding working in those companies is easier. Here are our tips for the top seven jobs that students should look out for.
Tutoring
Given that you are already studying at a high-level, getting a job helping pupils with their high-school work in your specialist subjects is both a simple task and extremely flexible. Meetings with your pupils can be scheduled around your commitments and you only need to take on as many pupils as you think you can handle. What’s more, tutoring is generally well paid and, depending on your specialities and the level of the scholar, can bring in as much as R200 an hour.
Retail work
Stores need to be open for longer now than at any point in the past, but full-time staff are only allowed to work for a maximum number of hours. This is why students are welcomed with open arms by shops that are looking to have their evening and weekend shift rosters filled. While larger chain stores will likely prefer to hire more full-time staff, smaller stores such as book shops, antique stores, independent clothing brands and pharmacies are always on the lookout for new people. If they don’t have a position now, the chances are they will in the near future and being enthusiastic and dropping off a CV can get you noticed.
Bartending and waiting tables
Working in a restaurant, or bar, serving the patrons is most likely the most stereotypical job you can think of when it comes to student work. Doing these things can also be so much more than simple restaurant work. Catering companies, for example, are always looking for staff to serve at large functions, and intelligent, well turned out students are their first choice, while craft markets and food trucks are also more than ready to take on eager young grillers and baristas for music festivals and other outdoor opportunities.
Because these jobs require mostly evening and weekend work, they are a great place to start looking if you need something part-time in a hurry. Don’t be fooled though, while the tips and money may add up to more than working in retail, you will definitely be forced to earn that as the late hours and, often heavy cleaning and lifting, does make it feel like you are earning every cent of your income.
Social media manager
It’s a sad fact that social media managers are not particularly well paid, but that opens up an opportunity for enthusiastic students. If you know your way around Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok and have the followers to prove it, then there are plenty of small companies who would love to work with you. Simply putting an advert out on social media and asking for people’s help can find you a job, but it might be easier to jump onto an app like Fiverr or Upwork to get your first jobs – just don’t expect to earn a lot in the beginning.
Brand ambassador
This is a very lofty title for a job that’s essentially just being energetic, friendly and self-motivated enough to represent brands at their various launches, activations or campaigns. Your job would be to interact with the public giving away flyers, helping them sample product, working as a shooter salesperson in bars or through soft-selling in malls. If you have a truly sizeable social media following you may also be able to use that to sell products and represent brands online. Send out enquiries to small companies first, and sign up with an agent to help you win activations and if you are good, you will be busy in no time.
Au pair
Au pairing will require you to look after someone else’s children while they are at work. You will pick them up, drop them off at extra-curriculars, help with homework and generally keep them safe and entertained until parents get home. The job usually pays fairly well and because it’s usually afternoon work, is great for those with classes in the morning. There is no standard fee for au pairing and what you earn could differ hugely dependent on who you are working for and what duties they are hoping you perform. The bonus though is that while the kids are at their Karate classes or perhaps even napping, you will be able to get on with your assignments. A car will, however, be essential for this job.
Hotel receptionist or late-night assistant
All hotels and backpackers need people who are available in the evenings and on weekends to check in guests and to make sure their needs are taken care of. Smaller hotels may require more, like managing breakfasts, or even running loads of laundry. If you are studying tourism or hospitality this job should be your go-to, to get a foot-in-the-door and valuable work experience, while also giving you plenty of downtime during the later hours to get your work done.
The Fields
Even if you take on the simplest of jobs, working alongside studies is always going to be a bit draining. It’s therefore important that your home be as comfortable and relaxing as possible to ensure you don’t suffer from burnout. At The Fields all apartments are well appointed, and the chill area with foosball, and chess wall will also help you relax. Those working uniformed jobs will also be grateful to know they won’t be constantly in search of late night laundromats as The Fields has their own Wash Bar so you can be assured of showing up at work the next day as fresh as you need to be. At The Fields your home will always be a welcome sight at the end of a long the day.
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