Attending university can be a costly experience for students. Not only do they have to pay the hefty £3,200 per year tuition fee, which is set to rise to a maximum £9,000 next year, but they also have to budget for daily expenses, including food, rent and travel.
When you consider the average cost of rent for student accommodation in Manchester is £3,530 per academic year and the maximum student loan available for a student living away from home is £4,950, it becomes obvious there is a significant shortfall in finance that needs to be filled.
That is why, according to a study carried out by Santander Universities, around 43 per-cent of students take on employment to help them meet their daily living expenses. The most popular jobs being bar and waitressing work.
Working while at university
If you decide to take part-time employment of around 15 hours a week, which is the maximum amount recommended by most universities, there are many things you can do to help you find the right job. Such as:
• Handing your updated CV into local pubs, bars and restaurants stating your availability for work.
• Visiting and signing up to job search websites, checking them daily for new jobs or opting in to job email alerts.
• Checking university and library notice boards and local papers for jobs advertised.
• Popping into local job agencies and inquiring about temp work, which can be both well paid and flexible.
Post-graduation
Once graduated most students will either be heading back home or staying on in Manchester. Either way, they will undoubtedly be looking to get a foot on the career ladder. This is a task easier said than done after the 2008 recession, which the graduate job market is still trying to recover from.
Figures published by the Office of National Statistics in August show there are around 2.49 million people unemployed after an increase of 38,000 in the three months leading up to June. Other damning statistics recently published by the Higher Education Authority reveal that just over a quarter of students who graduated in 2007 – a year before the recession hit in April 2008 – are still seeking full-time employment.
Finding a job post-graduation
Although these recent figures may be disheartening, there are still jobs available and to claim one you need to work hard and make sure you stand out from the crowd.
Firstly it is important to consider a viable career path. Students must bear in mind which industries currently have the most graduate jobs. For example, graduate IT jobs have increased by just over a quarter year-on-year for the second financial quarter of this year. Whereas it has been reported around half of 2009 engineering graduates cannot find jobs in engineering.
Having an updated, easy to read CV that displays your potential to the maximum is also vital.
Job search websites are a valuable tool for finding a job. Check them regularly and sign up to job email alerts so you are always aware when a vacancy becomes available.
Scan local, national and trade newspapers in the classified job section where graduate jobs are often advertised.
It is also worth considering an internship which may lead to permanent work. Nearly half of internships are unpaid but it is important to know that a newly published code of practice states internships over six weeks should be paid.
Job centres are also there to offer financial support to graduates looking for work. They may also offer further training opportunities and will help you find a job.
Most importantly, when offered an interview remember preparation and research is the key to winning future employers over.
Source: Menmedia.co.uk, Wednesday 28th September 2011
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