Part-time Careers Service and Vacation work Location Opening Hours Monday – Thursday: 10am - 5pm Monday - Friday: Friday: 2pm - 5pm 10am 5pm (Non-term-time hours may differ, visit website for details)
(Non-term time hours may differ, visit our website for details)
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers careers@rhul.ac.uk
(01784) 443073 Updated Aug 2011
Sources of Advice Royal Holloway Careers Service We provide one to one advice and help with CVs and applications. To book a 15 minute appointment, simply drop into the service or call us on the day you would like an appointment. Appointments are available Monday to Thursday 11 - 12am (term time only) and 2 - 4pm (all year). Job Centre Plus 62 London Road Staines; 01784 231600 www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/index.html
Jobs on campus Royal Holloway vacancies
www.rhul.ac.uk/jobs
Students’ Union vacancies
www.surhul.co.uk and also within the Students’ Union Building.
ONLINE The Careers Service operates an online portal for students to search for job vacancies and employer information, sign up to events as well as upload a profile. Visit: interfase.thecareersgroup.co.uk/collegelogin/loginRHUL.aspx Newspapers Staines & Egham News Surrey Advertiser
Surrey Herald & Staines News Staines Informer (Free Paper)
Online vacancies, recruitment and work experience www.e4s.co.uk www.justjobs4students.co.uk www.fish4jobs.co.uk www.gumtree.com www.hotrecruit.com
www.justparttime.co.uk www.monster.co.uk www.rec.uk.com/membersarea/directory
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
Networking and Approaching Employers Directly Career experts estimate that the vast majority of job openings are never advertised or publicly announced, but filled through word-ofmouth. “Networking� means developing a broad list of contacts and telling them that you are actively looking for a job. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to other people so that you can expand your network.
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
Employers say time and time again that a person who makes a personal approach will get their CV to the top of the pile. The face-toface approach is an essential one to get used to in retail, hospitality, or any work requiring customer service and communication. “Being proactive” will get you noticed and can be a skill to put on your CV.
Applying for a job Working hours College guidelines recommend that 20 hours work a week during termtime is the maximum that should normally be considered by any student.
Wages and Taxation The National Minimum Wage (from 1.10.11) is as follows: 18-20 years old: £4.98 per hour 21+ years old: £6.08 per hour
Income Tax Please visit www.direct.gov.uk for more information on taxation and other employment rights Amount earned per year
% of tax deducted from income
Between £1 and £7,475
0%
Between £7,476 and £35,000
20%
Between £35,001 and £150,000
40%
(£150,000+ 50%)
If you earn less than the personal allowance of £7475, you do not pay tax. This means that you can earn £622 per month before you start paying tax. Additionally, you do not have to pay National Insurance when you are earning below £139 per week.
You can also check if you are eligible for a refund using the Student Tax Refund Calculator on Facebook http://apps.facebook.com/uktaxrefundcalc www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
Going for an interview / accepting work Check that you can actually get to the job on a regular basis. Visit www.tfl.gov.uk for help planning journeys on public transport in London. Always tell a friend or someone where you’re going for an interview, especially if it’s to an unknown address or employer.
Discrimination You are entitled to protection if you are treated unfairly for a reason unconnected with your ability to do a job. If you feel you are being discriminated against for any reason you can contact one of the organisations below or come into the Careers Centre.
Quick Tips for your CV You may have to tailor your CV to different employers, but you should have a sound basic CV ready. 1. Keep your CV up to date with your latest profile. 2. Ensure no spelling or grammatical mistakes. 3. Get a Careers Adviser to look it over with you.
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
Transferable Skills Transferable skills are those that transfer readily from one job to another. All jobs can give you the skills and experience which employers are looking for. A retail job can give you excellent experience as well as talking points during interviews. Some examples include: communication - oral, in writing, or electronically teamwork - being a constructive team member, contributing practically to the success of a team leadership - being able to motivate and encourage others, whilst taking the lead commitment/motivation having energy and enthusiasm in pursuing projects interpersonal skills - ability to relate well to others and to establish good working relationships problem solving - thinking things through in a logical way determining key issues, including creative thinking flexibility/adaptability - ability to handle change and adapting to new situations
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
International Students The ability to speak more than one language is a really asset when searching for work.
Can I work while I study? Your status of work within the UK will be shown on the passport sticker or identity card. The below table shows typical terms shown on the passport sticker, and the eligibility to work whilst studying in the UK. Unable to work during studies
Able to work during studies Work (and any changes) must be No Work* authorised Able to work as authorised by * Working whilst studying will Secretary of State breach your immigration Restricted Work. P/T term time. F/T conditions which is a criminal vacations. offence. For example passport stamps: www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/working/work_during_stamps.pdf
What hours can I work? If your student immigration permission allows you to take employment you can work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during the holiday periods. Working in excess of 20 hours a week can affect UK Visa applications in the future. Term-time means any period when you are supposed to be doing academic work, such as attending classes and lectures, preparing for exams, doing coursework, writing an essay, a dissertation or thesis. Your holidays are the period when you do not have to be doing academic work. For more information regarding immigration permissions: Come into the Careers Centre Ask International Student Support (FW139) Visit www.ukcisa.org.uk
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students
National Insurance You need a National Insurance number to legally work in the UK. This is a unique personal number that is used to identify you to the Department of Work and Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk). You will need to call Job Centre Plus on 0845 600 0643 to arrange an appointment to get a National Insurance number. You may find the following websites useful too: www.dwp.gov.uk/ Information about getting a National Insurance number. www.ukcisa.org.uk UKCISA promotes and protects the needs of international students in the UK, including information about working in the UK. www.educationuk.org/downloads/work_in_uk.pdf Information for International students wanting to work in the UK.
English grammar can be very confusing, so it is a good idea to pick up a grammar handout from the Careers Centre to help avoid mistakes in CVs, application forms and covering letters. In the Careers Centre there is also a wide range of books tailored to the needs of International Students, including books on European and international business customs.
www.rhul.ac.uk/careers/students