Durham University: guide to working part-time

Guide to working part-time whilst at University

Contents P3 The Student Employment Service P5 Combining work and study P8 Employability skills P10 Where to look for part-time work P14 Job scams P16 Applying for part-time work — CVs, Cover Letters and Application Forms P20 Interviews P24 Employment information — National Minimum Wage, Tax, National Insurance and Eligibility to work in the UK. P28 Student Employee Of The Year Awards 2014 P31 Useful links P32 Memories of Durham — photo competition The companies featured in this guide are not endorsed in any way

by Durham University.

All student views are their own.

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The Student Employment Service

The Student Employment Service is based within the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre.

Our aim is to:  Provide information to students looking for part-time and vacation work within the University and the local area and support them in making effective applications.  Work with internal and external employers to facilitate suitable part-time and vacation work for Durham University students.  Provide information and advice to students and employers on employment related matters such as working hours, income tax, National Insurance, etc.

For more information visit: https://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/emp/part-time or email ses@durham.ac.uk To book an appointment with the Student Employment Service visit: https://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/help/ia

Durham The Palatine Centre Stockton Road Durham DH1 3LE Tel: 0191 334 1437

Queen’s Campus, Stockton Ebsworth Foyerr Ebsworth Building Thornaby Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH 0191 334 0202 3

Durham students working part-time Lauren Forsyth, Grey College 2nd Year Undergraduate — Mathematics I work as a DLHE (Destination of Leavers of Higher Education) Telephoner, ringing up graduates to survey them about what they are now doing in terms of work, study or travel. This data then goes to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, and ultimately is used in university league tables. The job is based in the Careers Centre in the Palatine building, which is very convenient given that my lectures are on the science site and I can go straight there at the end of the day. The work itself is somewhat seasonal in that we have to survey leavers 6 months after their graduation, meaning that the majority of work is available in the first month of Epiphany Term and then for a couple of weeks after exams in June. Typically you need to be able to commit to at least two evenings per week, however the shifts are very flexible and easy to work around other commitments. I first heard about the job simply by scanning the Careers Centre vacancy portal for local part-time work, wanting to make the most of my free time after exams. I was required to send in a CV and covering email, which then led to a fairly straightforward interview where I learned more details about the survey itself and what precisely was required of me. On the first day of work, we had a half-hour paid training session before we actually began calling, for which I was at first quite nervous but confident once I found a good pattern of introducing myself. The skills I picked up included learning how to be professional on the phone, even when dealing with someone who didn't particularly want to talk to you, as well as improving my accuracy and efficiency of data entry. The job is also very well paid, at just over £7 per hour as well as holiday pay but also I really enjoy working there, you get to hear from graduates about what they're doing - and many love to reminisce about their time at Durham!

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Combining work and study Durham University has recommendations on the maximum number of hours you should be working whilst studying. This is so that you can still put your academic commitments first whilst also making the most of the range of extra-curricular activities available.

The maximum number of working hours recommended are for guidance only. It is your responsibility to assess the academic pressures and demands of your subject discipline and prioritise this over any part-time work.

Term-time work Vacation work Undergraduate students

Maximum 12 hours Full-time work permitted per week

Postgraduate Taught students

Maximum 12 hours* per week

52 week course with no vacation period.

Postgraduate Research

Maximum 12 hours* per week

Check with your academic supervisor and refer to your funding terms and conditions if applicable

students

*Under University core regulations, no full-time student may undertake more than six hours per week of paid teaching, demonstrating or other research work within the University

International students: With regards to International students there may additional working hour restrictions in place from the government. Please check your Visa to see what restrictions apply.

Even if your Visa states that you may work for a greater number of hours than listed above, the University recommendations still apply.

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Durham students working part-time Colinette Wang, John Snow College 1st Year Undergraduate — Business and Management

I worked as a ‘Library Support Assistant’ at the Queen’s Campus Library, Durham University. This was a temporary position during the weeks leading up to our exams between 22nd April and 20th May, 2012. I heard about this job through the Student Employment Service and had to apply by writing a covering letter and sending my CV. Once I had passed the first stage of the job application, the manager at the Queen’s Campus Library invited me for an interview.

At first I was worried about the questions that I would be asked and how I should answer them. But as the interview progressed, I calmed down.

Questions that were asked included my availability, knowledge of the library, how they operated, and why I actually wanted the job. The rate of pay was £4.85 because I had only turned 18 years old at that time. I worked part-time once a week for 5 weeks, from 8pm to midnight. I was nervous on the first day but the library staff were very welcoming and were willing to ‘teach me the ropes’. Therefore, I adjusted quickly and worked efficiently.

My duties included: shelving, patrolling the library, assisting in noise control and answering any questions that students had. Alongside those duties, I was required to perform a head-count in the library every hour, because our university was in the process of deciding whether or not to expand the Queen’s Campus Library.

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I had learned to be very patient and understanding, especially at times when students would break the library rules (for example eating ice cream in the library). I felt bad because I would always get ‘the evil eye’ every time I told someone off but this was an important part of the job.

Nevertheless, I wanted to expand my horizons and discover what it was like to work in a library; and I had acquired just that. It was great working for Durham University because in general, they provide a safe environment, guidance and support along the way. Most importantly, I liked how the manager trusted us to perform our jobs without feeling the need to watch over us ‘like a hawk’. This is because I personally think trust is the most important factor in the workplace, especially when it comes to having job satisfaction.

My role as ‘Library Support Assistant’ did not interfere with my studies because I had managed to complete all my Uni-related things during the daytime, and was still motivated to go to work afterwards. Nonetheless, I thought I should mention that I had managed my time effectively during this period by not going clubbing!

Kyle Wong, St Mary’s College 2nd Year Undergraduate — Engineering

Job title: Club Photographer. Company: IAMVIP Photography, working inside various bars/clubs in Durham. What were your duties?: Taking photos of customers.

Making and selling keyrings. Collecting and being responsible for payments. How did you hear about the job?: Facebook. How did you apply?: Online application on their website followed by a brief interview. Rate of pay: Up to £10ph. Period of time worked: 1 year and 3 months. What was your first day like?: Felt awesome! I felt like I was going somewhere with photography. I very much enjoyed telling people I am now a paid photographer. What skills did you learn?: Customer relations, how to sell effectively, how to appeal to different customers, working under pressure, handling cash. What was the company like to work for?: They were quite friendly and fairly flexible. How did you fit part-time work in with your academic commitments?: I managed ok in my 1st year as work load was relatively little. Then in 2nd year I struggled to keep up so stopped working after the 1st term.

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Employability skills Any part-time job will allow you to increase your employability by gaining transferable skills. While working it is good to be thinking about the skills you are gaining and look for opportunities to develop further. Here is a list of skills that employers tend to look for when recruiting:

Commercial Awareness An understanding of how organisations work, the issues which they face and the role of people within them.

Customer Service Making the customer or client feel valued: the most visible aspect of an organisation's performance.

Initiative Being proactive, identifying opportunities and generating new ideas.

Problem Solving The ability to work through the details of a problem to reach a solution.

Teamwork Working collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a common goal.

Communication The ability to impart or interchange thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or signs.

Integrity Honesty and the display of moral and ethical principles.

Leadership The ability to organise, inspire and motivate a group of people towards the achievement of a goal.

Project Management The process of planning, monitoring and controlling, in relation to a particular project.

Time Management The ability to manage time and prioritise to be more productive and efficient in completing tasks.

Durham University has a range of programmes designed to help you develop and make the most of your employability skills. Visit the Employability Skills page of the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre website for more information.

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Durham students working part-time Alex Otty, St Mary’s College 1st Year Undergraduate — Psychology This summer I applied for a temporary position as a Sales Assistant at Clarks, during the back to school season. Having just finished my A levels I intended to find a summer job to gain experience before starting university. However, being a local from Durham, when I was accepted at Durham university I was given a permanent part-time job working weekends. I was made aware of the position in an advert in the shop window and applied through an application form, which lead to an informal interview. The interview process was not typical in the sense that not a lot of questions were asked other than, are you good with children? Are you a team player and willing to learn? Clarks sent me on a training day, meaning I am a trained fitter in the children’s department.

The rate of pay is £6.44 per hour and providing the store reaches its targets commission is also added. My first week working was enjoyable but stressful, I found it awkward when customers asked questions I wasn’t able to answer and found navigating the stock room challenging but the staff were very supportive and were aware of the training that was required. I have acquired many skills, in particular time and finance management as well as gaining valuable experience communicating with various types of people from children to the elderly and learning how to provide excellent customer service. Clarks is a great company to work for, they are supportive and look after their workforce. With working weekends, sporting commitments are sometimes hard to maintain, however the hours are flexible and shifts are typically four hours long so providing you have good time management, academic and extracurricular activities aren’t particularly affected.

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Where to look for part-time work The Student Employment Service The Student Employment Service works with employers to advertise jobs both in the local area and on campus.

We do not advertise any jobs that exceed our working hours recommendations during term-time.

Jobs in the local area are advertised via the Student Services Portal: https://careers.dur.ac.uk/home.html Jobs on campus are advertised via our student jobs portal: https://ig5.i-grasp.com/ fe/tpl_durham04.asp Check the vacancy email bulletin that is sent out by the Careers Centre each Thursday for a selection of current local part-time vacancies and student jobs on campus.

Online jobs boards As well as checking the Durham University jobs portals you can broaden your job search by checking external jobs boards too. Some of the main online jobs boards are:

Click on the logo to access the relevant website.

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North East specific

Recruitment agencies Recruitment agencies are used by employers to help them find suitable temporary or permanent staff. The employer pays the recruitment agency for this service, not the job seeker so you will never be charged a fee by a reputable agency. Many recruitment agencies abide by a Code of Professional Practice that sets standards to ensure that they demonstrate a commitment to professional and ethical recruitment.

To check whether a recruitment agency operates to this code of practice visit: https://www.rec.uk.com

Durham Recruitment agencies: 2nd Floor, Bridge House Framwellgate Bridge Durham, DH1 4PW 26 North Road, Durham, DH1 4SG Allergate House, Belmont Business Park, Durham, DH1 1TW Rosebay Road, Littleburn Industrial Estate, Langley Moor, DH7 8HJ Humber House, Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham, DH1 1TH

Stockton Recruitment agencies Thomas House, Cygnet Drive, Stockton, TS18 3DB 70-74 Bruswick St, Stockton, TS18 1DW Christine House, Teesdale Park, Stockton, TS17 6DA Halifax House, Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton, TS18 3TS 129 Norton Rd, Stockton, TS18 2BG

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Company websites Many employers only advertise via their own recruitment pages on their websites and you won’t find their vacancies anywhere else. It is a good idea to identify companies that you would like to work for and then check their online recruitment pages regularly. You can often sign up to receive email alerts when new positions matching your criteria are posted. If you do this, make sure that you check your email regularly as vacancies can be filled very quickly.

Newspapers Local newspapers publish weekly jobs pages with the latest vacancies so it is a good idea to find out which day your local newspaper publishes jobs and check for part-time vacancies each week. Some local newspapers are available for reference in the Library.

Local newspapers also post some part-time job vacancies on their websites so it is worth checking there regularly.

Speculative applications If you have identified a company that you would like to work for, it is a good idea to contact them speculatively to see if they have any vacancies or to find out what their recruitment process is. The best way to do this is to ask to speak to the manager in person or by telephone (not by email). If you are going to approach a company speculatively in person, you should always make sure that you are presentable and have a copy of your CV with you. Ask to speak to the manager if they are available. If they are not available you can ask about the company’s recruitment practice and if appropriate, ask to leave your CV for their consideration. Remember to be polite and professional at all times.

Social Media Many companies are now recruiting for some positions via their social media channels. It can be a good idea to ‘like’ or ‘follow’ their local branch to keep up to date with opportunities. However, you need to remember that your social media presence could be potentially visible to a prospective employer so it is a good idea to keep it professional. You might, for example, want to create a separate Twitter account for job seeking.

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Shop windows Many businesses (such as shops, cafes and restaurants) advertise their current vacancies by placing a sign in the window. The sign will usually have the basic details of the position and information on how to apply. Keep an eye out for vacancies advertised in this way.

Rolling applications Some companies recruit staff by collating applications throughout the year and then considering these applications when a vacancy arises. This means that they may not actually need to advertise the vacancy as they can recruit from the applications they have already received. To find out if a company does this, have a look at their recruitment process on their website or call in and ask.

Top 10 tips for looking for part-time work      

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Make an appointment with the Student Employment Service if you would like advice on looking for part-time work: https://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/help/ia.

Regularly check the Student Services Portal for local, part-time work opportunities advertised by the Student Employment Service: http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/vacancies.

Regularly check the Durham University student jobs portal: https://ig5.i-grasp.com/fe/ tpl_durham04.asp .

Regularly check online jobs boards as new vacancies are advertised daily.

Identify companies that you would like to work for and check their websites regularly for new vacancies or sign up to email alerts to be notified when new jobs are posted.

Think about the skills that you currently have and which skills you might need to develop further. The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre can help you to do this: https:// www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/employability.

Let friends and family in the local area know you are looking for work. They may be the first to hear about vacancies at their workplace and can let you know about them.

Look out for vacancies being advertised in company windows. Also, try to be aware of any new businesses opening up as they may be looking for new staff.

Broaden your search. Don’t just concentrate on the immediate town centre but think about where you could feasibly travel to in the local area. Remember to take into consideration the cost of transport, the travel time and the time of day/night you would need to travel.

Consider volunteering as a way of developing the skills and experience you need to get a paid part-time job. There are University societies that can help identify opportunities in the local area: https://www.dur.ac.uk/experiencedurham/studentvolunteering, http://www.durhamduck.org.uk, https://community.dur.ac.uk/community.action.

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Job Scams When looking for a part-time job it is important to watch out for potential job scams.

You should be wary of any job offer that is received directly without you having applied for a job with that company (for example by email). A legitimate company will NEVER ask you to pay money for anything up front or ask you to give your bank details or other personal details before having met you and formally offered you a position.

Some job scams are designed to get your personal details (such as bank details). Others are designed to get you to carry out illegal activity (such as money laundering).

Some things to watch out for are: 

Being approached directly by the company. It is best practice with legitimate jobs for the employer to advertise the position, receive applications and choose the right person for the job based on merit.

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Salary that seems too good to be true. For example £200 a week for 5 hours work.

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Poor English, spelling mistakes, bad grammar, etc.

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Being asked to send or receive documents on behalf of clients or organisations. Often this is money laundering and you are liable for illegal activity even if you didn’t know what you were doing.

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Being asked to respond urgently to the email. For example, the email says that the previous person working has left/on holiday/ill, so the work needs doing urgently or saying that they will offer the job to someone else if you don’t reply.

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Being asked to pay up front for ‘materials’ or an ‘admin cost’.

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No company website or no physical address for the company.

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No contact number for the company. Or if there is one, it is a mobile number not a landline telephone number.

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Fake website address. Or if a website address is provided it may be of a legitimate company but the person emailing you might have nothing to do with that company if they are emailing from an unrelated email account. Check the website thoroughly, often if it is a legitimate company that has been targeted by scammers it will have some information warning people about it on their recruitment page.

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Email address of contact does not match the company name. Or is from a generic email address that anyone can set up (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.).

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Offering a job without asking about your qualifications, work experience, etc.

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Asking for personal details from you before you have applied for a job. This could be your name, address, bank details, etc.

Scam jobs that are prevalent at the moment often require people to receive something (documents, cheques, etc.) and forward them to another address.

If in doubt, please contact the Careers Centre for advice.

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Durham students working part-time Emily Sherr, Hatfield College 3rd Year Undergraduate — Education Studies (History) I have worked as a Brand Manager for Teach First for the past two years. My role is to promote Teach First and their graduate opportunities at Durham, as well as spread the message of education disadvantage in the UK. This involves going to careers fairs, flyering on the science site, holding presentations and running events (ranging from Guess How Many Sweets In The Jar competitions, to lab lunches, to pub quizzes). I work four hours a week, at a rate of £7 per hour. The work is highly flexible though and fits in around my academic requirements. Teach First fully understands if I cannot do as much work one week due to other commitments. I also work as part of a team of four and we are able to share responsibilities and help one another during busy times. I originally heard about the opportunity through the Graduate Recruiter at a Careers Centre event on campus and then saw it in the weekly careers service emails. The application process involves an online application form, a meeting with the Durham recruiter and an assessment centre in London, where all costs are covered. Teach First provides a lot of help and support with your application and tries to bring out the best in you. During the process you have to demonstrate your understanding of Teach First, your ability to work well in a team, your organisational skills and potential to network and confidently engage with students. These are all competencies which are required in the role and the application process successfully assesses these. My confidence in the role has grown dramatically over the past two years and things which originally seemed daunting have become much easier.

I have learnt innumerable skills and done things I never anticipated myself being able to do such as giving presentations and conducting lecture shouts. I have gained great experience in organising events, interacting with different people including other employers, university societies and officers, and potential applicants. I have developed resilience having faced struggles and difficulties in terms of organising successful events, as well as many other invaluable skills to the opportunities I have been provided with. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Teach First for the past two years and have experienced its many benefits; developing skills, making contacts and gaining a real insight into Teach First. Teach First’s general ethos and charitable origins make it a highly understanding, friendly and passionate company, which allows the role to seem much more like a hobby than a job.

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Applying for part-time work CVs Most jobs that you apply for will require you to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) as part of the application process. A CV is used as a marketing tool for you to show the employer the relevant skills, experience and qualifications that you have gained that would make you an ideal candidate for the job. In the UK, a standard CV should normally be no longer than two pages. This means that you need to think carefully about which information to include and tailor your CV to each job you are applying for by using the most relevant examples of your skills, experience and qualifications.

Cover Letters A covering letter should typically accompany a CV when applying for a job. It is also good practice to submit a covering letter when making speculative applications. The role of the covering letter is to complement the CV but also to make a clear case to an employer as to your motivation for applying and suitability for the role.

A covering letter should really be no longer than one page. It is imperative that it is targeted towards the role that you are applying for. An employer reading a covering letter should be left with the impression that the candidate has researched the opportunity and the organisation and has clearly demonstrated their suitability and motivation for the post. A covering letter that is too general in content and does not reflect the requirements of the opportunity (e.g. person specification and job description) is very unlikely to be successful.

Application Forms Some employers will require you to fill in a standardised application form when applying for a job. Application forms will often have fields where you can fill in your personal details, education and work experience but they may also have competency based questions for you to answer to check your suitability for the job. If the form cannot be completed electronically, it is a good idea to write a draft first so that you can plan your answers and not make any mistakes with spelling or grammar. Make sure that you complete all sections of the application form, as by not doing so you could be discounted for the position.

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There is lots of information and advice on CVs, Cover Letters and Application Forms available from the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre. 

You can make a one-to-one appointment with the Student Employment Service or a Careers Adviser to discuss your application and get advice: https://www.dur.ac.uk/ careers/s/help/ia

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There are books that you can borrow, or use as reference, available in the Careers Centre (Durham and Queens’s Campus, Stockton).

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Information is available online at: https://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/cvapp

Top 10 tips for applying for part-time work  

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Apply in the manner specified. If the employer is asking for a CV and a Cover Letter, make sure you provide both.

Tailor your CV and Covering Letter to each job you are applying for making sure that you include all your relevant skills, qualifications and experience that match what the employer is looking for (think about the job description/ person specification/nature of the role).

Ensure that the email address that you provide is professional eg Example@durham.ac.uk rather than PrincessBecca@gmail.com.

If emailing your application make sure that the titles of your documents are suitable eg DanielSmith CV rather than DansNewCV. Make sure that you are available on the contact details you have provided.

There is no point giving an employer a landline telephone number in a different part of the country or an email address that you rarely check.

If handing in your application in person, make sure that you have a crease free copy on good quality paper. It is your chance to make a good first impression so make sure you are smartly dressed and presentable. Be polite, enthusiastic, professional and remember to smile!

Keep a record of the applications you have made. That way, if you are invited to interview you can refer back to your application and remind yourself of the job description/requirements.

Update your CV regularly even when you aren’t looking for work. It is easier to add details of qualifications, training or responsibilities when they are fresh in your mind rather than having to think back to what you did. You can then edit the content to suit the next job you are applying for.

Be aware of seasonal fluctuations in the job market. For example, employers are often looking for extra staff around the Christmas and summer vacations.

Seek advice from the Student Employment Service. They can help with advice on where to look for part-time work and give you feedback on your CV, Cover Letter and applications.

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Durham students working part-time Xiaoqing Wang, Trevelyan College Postgraduate (Taught) — Politics and International Relations

My experience as a one-day Mandarin/English interpreter Last November when I was in the library, I received an email from the Student Employment Service which was recruiting for a part-time interpreter for a local chemistry company specialising in environmental services. I quickly confirmed that I was available during the requested time and glanced through the advertised company’s website. It seemed to me an excellent opportunity to get some new experience.

I was grateful that I had already had an appointment with a Careers Adviser at the Careers Centre and had my CV polished and ready. I sent out my CV along with a few sentences of my relevant experiences and decided to ring the company as well. I exchanged a brief and friendly conversation with a nice lady over the phone. Later, she called back and confirmed that she wanted me to report to work the next day. Interestingly, she told me that her mailbox was overwhelmed with responses but I was the first one to have called.

My job was simple. I was to receive three guests from China and act as the interpreter between the Chinese visitors and the company. It was a one-day job that paid £25 per hour. In the morning, the company engineer picked me up from my college and drove me to the company in Consett. I picked up some presentation materials from the company and we went directly to the airport.

We collected the guests and the company’s managing director. The day started easy as they exchanged small talk and toured around Newcastle. The lunch that followed was also laid-back. I only needed to chip in occasionally to aid any difficulties of communications. The jokes could be tricky to interpret but everyone laughed at appropriate timings so I assumed it all went fine!

The real business started in the afternoon. I was to sit in a director-level company meeting and translate the whole meeting.

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I was lucky that I had tackled most of the technical words while I was in the car preparing. The Chinese businessmen were quick-minded and they started to throw in sharp questions. I could feel the room heating up and had to think very fast to interpret. When there was lots of information, I had to quickly jot them down before I forgot. My mind was fully concentrated and sometimes words poured out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying. The trick was to ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Lastly, the Chinese businessmen requested to speak to the managing director alone. We went to the MD’s private office. Behind closed doors, I realised that what happened before was just priming; the real negotiation had only just started. I felt that I have gained invaluable insights into how real business and negotiations are being carried out. There were a few rounds of more intense discussions again, before they had to adjourn the meeting as the Chinese businessmen were due to fly back to London. When they left, one of them cared to ask for my contact details and praised my performance. The Managing Director seemed pleased with my work as well and asked me to come back for another meeting with him.

Then I realised that eight hours had flown by and I was truly starving!

Hannah Brennan, St Hild & St Bede 3rd Year Undergraduate — English Literature

Job: Bar staff at Lloyds Bishop’s Mill (JD Wetherspoons). I work on ‘student nights’ and Saturday nights behind the bar or otherwise glass collecting or restocking fridges etc. How did you apply?: Transferred from the pub I worked at in London. The interview to get that job was about JD Wetherspoons as a company and my previous experience with bar work. Rate of pay: National Minimum Wage. What was your first week like?: The average shift on a Wednesday or Saturday ends really late, meaning my sleeping pattern was totally disrupted in the first week, which has become slightly easier to manage.

How did you fit part-time work in with your academic commitments?: I don’t have lectures on a Thursday so I can recover from the previous shift. I have to write off doing academic work on Thursday and Sunday so I make sure I work hard the rest of the week! JD Wetherspoons is a great employer to work for and I would recommend them to other students considering part-time work.

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Interviews The application process for part-time positions will quite often involve an interview stage for shortlisted candidates.

An invitation to attend an interview is recognition that you have convinced an employer of your potential as a candidate. You have been invited to the next stage because you have effectively demonstrated your competencies, skills and motivation in relation to the position and the interview is a further opportunity to demonstrate your suitability.

It is a chance for the employer to confirm and explore further the qualifications, skills and abilities that you've outlined in your application. It is also your opportunity to get a feel for the role and whether or not you would enjoy working for that organisation.

Example questions 

Tell me a bit about yourself. This is a popular opening question designed to help break the ice. Your answer should remain professional and focus on your academic achievements and employment history.

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Why have you applied for this position? The interviewer is trying to establish if you fully understand what the job entails, how well you match their requirements and what appeals to you most about the job.

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What are your strengths? The interviewer is trying to establish whether your skills and abilities meet the requirements of the job you are applying for.

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What are your weaknesses? The interviewer is trying to determine if you have any weaknesses that could be detrimental to the role that you would be undertaking. They may also want to see how you react when faced with a difficult question. Don’t be too negative, instead try to choose a weakness that you can turn into a strength.

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Tell me about a time when… This is a competency style question. The employer is asking you for an example of a time when you have a used a skill or displayed a quality that would suit the requirements of the role. For example ‘Tell me about a time when you have had to work as a team’.

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Top 10 interview tips 

Be prepared. Do your research on the company and on the position you are applying for and think about the type of questions they may ask you. Revise the job description and your application thoroughly.

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Be on time. Plan your route to the interview and make sure you have a back up plan if something happens. If you aren’t familiar with the area perhaps have a ‘dummy run’ of travelling to the venue. This can take away some of the stress of finding where you are going on the day. Aim to arrive approx 10 minutes early and if you are going to be late for any reason, make sure you have their contact details so you can ring ahead and apologise.

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Dress smartly. This will help to create the right visual impression to an employer and help you to feel more confident. Make sure you go over your outfit a couple of days before the interview so you have time to fix anything, such as a missing button or scuffed shoes.

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Make a good first impression. Although you may be nervous, remember to be polite and professional with everyone you meet. You don’t know what influence they may have on you getting the job. Smile and be confident when entering the interview room. It is usually customary to shake hands with the interviewer and wait to be asked to be seated.

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Body language. Be conscious of your body language during the interview. If you sit with your arms crossed you may come across as defensive. Equally if you lean back in your chair and have too relaxed an attitude the employer may think you aren’t taking the interview seriously. Try not to fidget or play with anything (such as your clothes or hair) as this can be very distracting. Make eye contact when listening to and answering questions.

Smile!

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Remain positive. Try to keep a positive attitude during the interview process. If you go in thinking you have no chance of getting the job then you probably won’t get it. Stay positive and don’t give up even when you think the interview is going badly. During the interview it is hard to remain objective so don’t just assume that you have made a mess of things or not answered the questions well, take a deep breath and keep going to the best of your ability.

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Listen carefully to the question and answer what has been asked. If asked something that you are not prepared for it can be tempting to alter the question to one you are more comfortable with and give a rehearsed answer. This will only leave the interviewer feeling frustrated if their original question remains unanswered. If you aren’t sure what to say, it is ok to take a moment to think about it before answering.

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Ask questions. Don’t forget that the interview is also your chance to find out about the job and the employer and make sure that they are the right match for you. Prepare two or three questions to ask at the end of the interview. These questions shouldn’t be about things that could have been easily answered with a bit of research on the company .

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Ask for feedback. If you haven’t been successful, ask for feedback so that you can try to improve your technique for next time.

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Get advice. There is lots of advice about interviews available from the Careers Centre. See the website for more details or contact the Student Employment Service.

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Durham students working part-time Ana-Maria Costea, Van Mildert College 2nd Year Undergraduate — Psychology

I am currently working as a casual Event Assistant for the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre at Durham University. n The job was advertised by the Student Employment Service on the student jobs portal through which I also had to apply. The application consisted of a CV and a covering letter, but there was no formal interview.

The Career Fairs are usually scheduled throughout the academic year and include the Employer Information Fair (in October), Durham Law Fair (in November) and two other fairs in February: Science, Engineering & IT Fair and Discovery Event.

The hours of work vary as well: they are very flexible, depending on your academic commitments, so you can work 6-7 hours/day or less (if you have to attend a lecture, for example). There is also a lunch break (1/2 hour – 1 hour), which is unpaid, but (YUM) lunch is provided. The rate of pay is £7.01/hour, but there is also an additional holiday pay (12.07%), which will increase the hourly payment rate at around £7.85. However, the maximum number of hours you are allowed to work as an undergraduate student in one week is 12.

The first working day’s moments were a bit confusing, but soon everything became clear. You can always ask questions and you constantly receive support from the Careers staff. Moreover, you are part of a team, so you can also communicate with your team mates, assist them or receive help as well!

Each assistant receives a schedule of his/her own responsibilities and the description of the duties. These usually include setting up the event venue, monitoring the attendance at the event (by scanning campus cards), distributing event brochures, being in charge of the refreshments table, distributing water bottles to stands, collecting feedback forms from exhibitors and clearing up at the end of the event.

You also have to assist Careers staff and exhibitors – you might accompany them to their stands or offer them tea or coffee, for example. These duties might be revised throughout the day (depending on the situation), so you need to be flexible and spontaneous. Fundamentally you have to be polite and friendly and to ensure that everything is going alright - that both students and exhibitors are constantly assisted in case they need help or guidance.

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All in all, being an Event Assistant is an exciting and enjoyable experience. It helps me develop my customer service and team working skills, as well as my adaptability and flexibility. It also fits well with my academic schedule.

Furthermore, I have more contact with representatives from various recruiter companies and I have had the opportunity to learn how to adjust and work efficiently in a dynamic environment.

Emma Reynolds, St Mary’s College 1st Year Undergraduate — Geoscience

I work as an Officer Cadet for the British Army, in the Officer Training Corps (OTC). This is a branch of the Army Reserves specifically for students, which means that you can't get mobilised. Our local OTC is in Newcastle, and is made up of students primarily from Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria Universities.

As a member of the Reserves, you are expected to attend regular training nights; for us, we can go every Wednesday evening to Newcastle, and every other weekend on a field camp. However, you can attend as much or as little as you want, or can fit around your studies. The Army pays for all of your travel, and we get paid for every training night we attend. I also got paid £350 to go skiing, as this counts as adventurous training.

Pay is, for the first year, £38.99 per day, plus travel. For a weekend training event, which is typically Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning (all food is included) you are paid £100. My average monthly payslip is about £300, which isn't too bad considering that it's not that much work, and you are being trained in leadership.

New intakes are in October and January. Essentially, it consists of a selection weekend comprising of group discussion exercises, problem solving tasks, a short run, an interview, and a planning exercise; most people pass, and my intake (October 2013) had about 120 people.

Being part of the OTC is no commitment to joining the Army as a career, although quite a few do consider it, myself included. You learn how to lead people and how to work as an effective team, as well as the opportunity to travel and do adrenaline sports; I'm going to France this Easter to go climbing, and went skiing last term. I've applied for a parachuting course in the summer, and the best thing is that it's all paid for, and you get paid on top!

It's a great way to meet other people, and a good base for nights out in Newcastle, as well as being really flexible with work and commitments, which come first.

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Employment Information National Minimum Wage Employers must pay their workers a minimum amount as defined by law. This is called the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

From 1st October 2014 the National Minimum Wage rates are as following: Age 21 and over

Age 18-20

Under 18

£6.50 per hour

£5.13 per hour

£3.79 per hour

If you think that you are not being paid the National Minimum Wage please contact the Student Employment Service for advice.

National Insurance Number It is essential that you have a National Insurance Number when working in the UK. The National Insurance Number is made up of a series of letters and numbers and is unique to you. It makes sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are only recorded against your name. You pay National Insurance contributions to build up your entitlement to certain state benefits, including the State Pension.

To get a National Insurance Number you must have the right to work or study in the UK. You will pay National Insurance contributions if you are: 

16 or over



an employee earning above £149 a week (you still need a National Insurance Number even if you are not earning over this threshold).

For more information visit the Gov.UK website.

To apply for a National Insurance Number you need to telephone 0845 600 0643 (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm). This is the only free and legitimate way to apply. The process is straightforward so you do not need to pay a company to do this on your behalf.

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Tax and National Insurance If you have a job when you’re a student you may need to pay Income Tax and National Insurance.

You have to pay Income Tax and National Insurance if you earn over a certain amount.

This is known as the Personal Allowance and is £10,000 (for the tax year 2014 to 2015). This works out as approximately £192 a week, or £833 a month.

For the 2015-2016 tax year this amount may change.

You have to pay National Insurance Contributions if you earn more than £153 a week.

If you work for an employer then your Income Tax and National Insurance are usually taken automatically from your wages through Pay As You Earn (PAYE). The PAYE system spreads any tax due across the year as evenly as possible. In this way, if you work throughout the year, you will pay the right amount of tax. If you don't work continuously throughout the year, a refund may be due.

If you think you may be due a refund, use the Student Tax Checker on the HMRC website and follow the advice given.

Further information HM Revenue and Customs Student Tax advice

Eligibility to work in the UK If you are a non EEA or EEA Accession county national there may be some restrictions on working in the UK. This will depend on current guidelines and the type of Visa that you hold.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has comprehensive information on working both in the UK during your studies and after your studies.

For advice within the University, please visit the Student Immigration Office website.

Although your Visa may state that you can work up to 20 hours per week during term-time, please refer to the University's recommended maximum working hours as these apply to all students.

When starting a job, your employer will ask to see original documents that prove your eligibility to work in the UK. This is usually your Passport or International ID card and your Visa.

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Durham students working part-time Emma Beckett, St Hild & St Bede College 3rd Year Undergraduate — Education Studies

I used to work at Klute Nightclub as a member of bar staff. I worked on average two shifts per week, obviously more during busy periods like Freshers and less during deadline weeks, when there was less demand. I applied for the job by directly e-mailing Klute’s management a few weeks before the start of freshers’ week, as I had seen an advertisement on Twitter. It was quite an informal application process, with just an application form and a trial shift. I would really recommend applying to Klute if you have never had a part-time job before because they were so relaxed and did not require any previous experience and bar work is great for your CV because it demonstrates qualities such as enthusiasm and teamwork. One of the downsides of the job was that it was a zero hours contract, which meant that some nights we could be sent home after an hour of being there because there were few customers. On the plus side, that also meant that if any of the staff were busy with academic work you could swap shifts or ask not to work that week and the management were really flexible. The good thing about working for Klute was that everyone had the label of ‘bar staff’ which meant that everyone had the opportunity to work on the bar some shifts, whilst other shifts you may have the notoriously difficult task of glass-collecting, so everyone was equal in that respect. The management were usually very friendly and the other staff were mostly fellow students so it was a really nice atmosphere and I’m still in contact with some of them. I quit my job at Klute because my hours were 10pm-2am, but that did not include any added time needed to clean the bar and restock the bar at the end of the night, so sometimes we didn’t get to leave until 3am. Although we were paid for that hour, it was pretty difficult to motivate yourself to get up for 9am. I would recommend working for Klute, but I would also recommend using Durham University’s Student Employment Service to find a job, because the hours are normally more sociable and the pay is often better.

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Imogen Broadbent Smith, Van Mildert College 3rd Year Undergraduate — Anthropology

I have had three jobs whilst studying at University. I started by working as a waitress and barmaid at the Gourmet Spot, a Michelin recommended restaurant in the Viaduct area, as well as occasional work as a waitress and children’s entertainer at Crook Hall and Gardens. I now work as a Cafe Assistant for YUM, at the Cafe on the Green. I was fortunate to fall into my first job at the restaurant because it was owned by my second year landlady. When we signed for our house in our first year she gave me and two of my housemates a job. Previously I had only worked in shops, so to land on my feet in one of the best restaurants in Durham was incredibly lucky. I worked at the Gourmet Spot for nearly two years and was often left in charge when the manager was busy. I got the other two jobs at YUM and Crook Hall, because I had friends who already worked there, who recommended me to their employers. Juggling multiple jobs at the same time was difficult, but it had to be done!

In terms of getting the jobs, the Gourmet Spot gave me a trial shift before they decided to employ me. I started working at Crook Hall playing the Queen of Hearts in their Alice at Crook Hall event for children during half-term. I met my employers for a briefing and was given the job. I’ve been the Queen of Hearts each year now, and have also helped out at Crook Hall during their Christmas events, or when they are short staffed. Getting my job in YUM was more complex, involving interviews, filling in forms and presenting my CV. My work for Crook Hall is only occasional, but for the Gourmet Spot and Cafe on the Green, I have work 2-3 times a week.

This can mean I miss out on social activities, like formals and nights out, but I support myself, so I have to work to stay at University. The friends I have made at work, and the improvements I have made on my waitressing skills, mean that missing out on college or society activities hasn’t really bothered me that much.

I’ve still managed to be actively involved in Durham Student Theatre whilst being employed, so the occasional clash between the two has never caused huge problems. I think my academic studies did suffer slightly from having to work, which is why in my final year I have reduced my hours and have received help from the Access to Learning fund, giving me more time to focus on my studies and not worry about paying my rent!

The most important piece of advice I can give any student seeking employment during their time at University is to prioritise it over social activities. I would not have been as employable as I have been if I was not willing to stay in Durham during the holidays. This means I only went home for the odd week here and there last year, but the upside to this is that I have mostly been able to support myself. I found that local businesses are less likely to employ someone who will be away for weeks at a time, so being as available as possible during the holidays means they might be more lenient with you taking time off to do fun things during term-time.

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Student Employee of the Year Awards The Student Employee of the Year Awards aim to recognise and promote the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who combine part-time work with their study commitments.

The competition has been coordinated on an annual basis by the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES) since 2002 and has grown year on year.

Awards are given at University level, Regional Level and National Level. A SEOTY award can help boost your CV and give you the all important edge you need to succeed in a competitive graduate market.

The Student Employment Service works with local employers and University staff to encourage and support nominations for Durham University students. Students can also nominate their employer as the Student Employer of the Year.

If you would like us to contact your employer and let them know about the Student Employee of the Year Awards, please contact ses@durham.ac.uk.

Nomination categories for the competition are: Step up to Leadership. This category recognises students who have demonstrated leadership skills taking responsibility for projects or departments, etc. Perhaps they have been working in a business for a while and have been promoted or they supervise other staff, provide training, take the initiative and display accountability and creative thinking to leading the business.

Above & Beyond. This category recognises an outstanding student making a huge impact working in an organisation, going above and beyond on a regular basis.

Commercial Awareness. This category recognises a student working anywhere, who has made a big commercial impact to a business or organisation. This student will have increased profit, generated new business, or developed an enterprising idea by spotting new opportunities, engaging with new audiences or introducing a money saving scheme.

Student Employment Service. This is an exclusive category for Student Employment Service staff allowing them to recognise students working for the Student Employment Service or Careers Centre administration team or working through the Student Employment Service in other departments on campus.

Nominations open Epiphany Term 2015 28

Hannah Strong, winner of the Above & Beyond Award 2014 1st year Psychology student — George Stephenson College

Nominated by Pia Neave, University Retail Supervisor, Retail Office “Hannah has worked for the Retail Office since last summer and has been an outstanding employee from the word go. Areas of excellence include, but are not limited to, the following: Hannah’s customer service is beyond excellent; she is polite, friendly and helpful and always indulges in conversation with customers. Hannah goes above and beyond in every area of customer service by making customers feel special and giving them more than they expect. Furthermore Hannah is great with children and has shown patience when youngsters come into the shop, picking up items from displays and generally causing havoc. Hannah has a great work ethic and is a valued team player, as there is no management presence in the shop, Hannah can be relied on to use her own initiative and has a common sense approach to work. Hannah is flexible with her working hours, despite being a busy first year Psychology student who lives an hour away by bus. Hannah can always be relied on to cover shifts at the last minute, despite her commute. Hannah has never missed a shift and can always be relied on to turn up on time. Overall she is a valued member of our team. Throughout the past few months Hannah has had a significant impact on our department, as well as being a great asset to the Palace Green Library team. Hannah is often our ‘go to’ person if anyone cannot work a shift last minute at the shop. Her accommodating manner and dedication to customer service makes her stand out as one of the best student sales assistants we have had at Palace Green Library Shop, making her a well deserving nominee of the Student Employee of the Year award.’’

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Durham students working part-time Emily Shipton, St Cuthbert’s Society 1st Year Undergraduate — Geography I have been employed as a permanent part-time letter sorter with the Royal Mail since 2011 and for me, it has been a very good company to work for.

My contract hours are 14:00-22:00 every Saturday, however there are always lots of opportunities to do extra overtime if people want to and the rate of pay is very good. I work in the mail centre sorting national letters and parcels. The work is very much manual so you would be expected to lift heavy bags and tip them and be able to push heavy trolleys of work.

Due to being employed with them for two years, I could apply for a career break with them which means I am able to just work during the university holidays which fits in well with my studies. Obviously, others won’t be able to access this benefit if they join straight away and there are a number of changes happening within the business so I am not sure how many permanent part-time positions will be around in the local area, but it is always worth checking the website as Peterborough mail centre has recently hired some new permanent staff. However, there are other people who I know at Peterborough mail centre who have to travel up to two hours from their university to get to work. They find it difficult to fit in many social hours! If you are applying for a permanent job then you will do an online application and then an online sorting test which you are able to practice before you take the real thing. If this goes well, then you will be invited to an interview where they will ask questions, such as demonstrating where you have worked as a team, where you have had responsibility for someone else’s property and how you cope with boredom etc.

Alternatively, at Christmas time, there are always a large number of temporary casual vacancies available, so much so that if you put in an application you are pretty much guaranteed a casual position. Mail centres are in many cities and these positions usually last for a month and pay minimum wage, however they are guaranteed full-time hours.

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The hours are shift work, so once an application has been put in and accepted, you will be invited to attend an interview at the mail centre which essentially consists of showing some documents and then putting a preference in on the shift you wish to work (0600-1400 or 1400-2200 or 2200-0600), with night shifts and any unsociable hours being paid slightly more per hour. Casual jobs tend to be Monday-Friday.

So, there is the option of permanent part-time work if advertised on the website.

But if you want pretty much guaranteed full-time work just over the Christmas holidays (not the bank holidays though- don’t worry!) to top up your bank balance by quite a bit and to show evidence of experience of working as a team to time constraints and for a big company, a Royal Mail Christmas casual job is a good position to apply for!

Useful links 

Student Employment Service: www.durham.ac.uk/careers/s/emp/part-time

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Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre: www.durham.ac.uk/careers

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Careers Centre Appointments (Student Employment Service and Careers Advisers): www.durham.ac.uk/careers/s/help/ia

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Careers Centre Events: www.durham.ac.uk/careers/s/events

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University student jobs portal: https://ig5.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_durham04.asp

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Vacancy advertising portal (external jobs): www.durham.ac.uk/careers/vacancies

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National Student Employment Association student pages: www.nases.org.uk/ students

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Student Employee Of The Year Awards information: www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/emp/ part-time/seoty

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Direct Gov (Employment information): www.gov.uk/browse/working

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HMRC (Tax, National Insurance, etc.): www.hmrc.gov.uk

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Student Immigration Office: www.durham.ac.uk/immigration

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UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs): www.ukcisa.org.uk

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UK Boarder Agency: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

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Recruitment and Employment Confederation: www.rec.uk.com 31

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