In this blog, student and Careers Ambassador Jessica Owen highlights the benefits of working while studying, emphasising how flexible part-time roles through Lancaster University’s Employment and Recruitment Service (ERS) can build confidence, enhance CVs, and provide valuable transferable skills.

We’ve all gone through the process of looking at the job application for something we really want, only to see a note saying “prior experience required” and dismissing it from our heads because we don’t think we’re qualified. It can be hard to find work that gives you specific transferable skills while also fitting around a busy university schedule.

Instead of relying on unpaid internships or jobs that aren’t adding new types of experience to my CV, finding work through the Employment and Recruitment Service (ERS) that’s designed for students like me was one of the best decisions I made.

Why is it for me?

The part-time work I found through ERS is tailor-made for students, with our workload in mind. Many of the jobs are offered on an ad-hoc basis, meaning that you can pick up work whenever you’re free, with no pressure to work the same hours every week.

Most of the time, no formal work experience is needed. These are the perfect jobs for students who have perhaps never worked before and are basing their CV around the time they volunteered at their netball club’s fundraiser, or the holiday waitressing they committed to in sixth form. All most of the hiring managers are looking for are candidates with an ability to communicate and a willingness to get involved.

How does it help me now?

On top of earning extra money while I study, working during my degree has drastically built my confidence. From completing presentations in my seminars to learning to communicate my ideas fully, the work I’ve done with ERS has improved my conviction in my academic work. I’ve worked in open days as a student ambassador and become friends with other ambassadors who are in exactly the same situation I am. I’ve learnt to approach daunting situations with a smile, and my social skills have drastically improved since I began my time as a student here.

How does it help me post graduation?

As soon as we leave university, we’ll all be entering into the same competitive jobs market as every other UK graduate, a lot of us unsure on what exactly we want to be doing. Working while studying is an incredible opportunity to give your CV an advantage in the ever-growing pile that hiring managers encounter. The work that I’ve done through ERS has been tailor-made to a post-grad career; I’ve worked in marketing, content creation, outreach, events planning and so much more and have consistently been adding skills to my CV that align with the things I would be doing in a professional environment after graduation.

More than ticking boxes on a CV, though, I’ve also gained so much more confidence in my professional abilities. Having only worked in retail before university (which in and of itself taught me so much) I was nervous about how I would adapt to working in an administrative environment. Finding part time work and paid internships through ERS helped me to have more faith in my professionalism and ability to work in an office environment and gave me the brief introduction to the world of work that I so desperately needed.

When I started working while I study, I had no idea what a CV was supposed to look like – now, after applying for many jobs through the university I know what works and what doesn’t, and I know I can confidently promote myself to employers in an application.

Where can I find work?

Lancaster University’s ERS jobs board regularly posts job adverts directly aimed at students. Vacancies can be found on the ERS website.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.