What's on offer and how to apply

Part-time or temporary employment can be a means to increase your income to make life a little easier while at uni. It's also a chance to add to your CV and acquire new skills and experiences valued by potential employers after graduation.

LSE permits up to 15 hours of part-time work per week during term-time, and depending on your visa status, you might be allowed to work full-time during vacations. However, it's crucial not to compromise your attendance in lectures or classes for work commitments. Always prioritise your academic responsibilities when considering a part-time job!

Opportunities on campus

The majority of on-campus part-time opportunities are typically posted between September to November. While openings can emerge at other times, on-campus employment is in high demand, leading to competitive conditions.

These roles can be many things, usually routine administrative tasks, event stewarding, and helping out with promotional activities. However, the compensation is quite reasonable, and university departments tend to be flexible and work around your academic commitments.

Below are the best places to check for vacancies you can apply for:

• LSE CareerHub - LSE Careers vacancy board, lists all part-time and casual work suitable for students on campus.
• LSE Jobs - All jobs at LSE.
• LSE Student Union jobs - LSESU may advertise its jobs only on its own website.
• Widening Participation – LSE Student Vacancies - Jobs that give LSE students the opportunity to engage with the London community as Pathways Mentors.
• Academic departments - Contact departments directly for information about Graduate Teaching Assistants and availability of any student research assistant positions.

What you need to do to apply

When applying for part-time positions, most applications will typically involve submitting a CV and a cover letter tailored for this specific role.

Whether you're meeting with an employer in person or chatting with them over the phone, it's important to be ready both in terms of what you say and how you present yourself because first impressions really matter.

Make sure you know the job title and, if applicable, the job reference number or contact person's name for the vacancy you're interested in. Also, have all the relevant information the employer might need, such as your contact details, email address, and information about your experience and availability, at your fingertips.

Consider keeping a notebook with details of the different positions you're applying for to avoid any mix-ups, as they might want to reach out to you later.

You might also want to research the job further to make sure it's a good fit, like finding out the expected hours or days of work per week. Be careful not to ask questions that are already answered in the job listing, as this could raise doubts about your attention to detail.

Practice your questions in advance to ensure you come across as clear, confident, and concise because this is the employer's first chance to evaluate your communication and language skills. If your application is successful, you'll likely be invited for an interview, so be prepared for that as well.

You can link up with the LSE careers department for more support but you can start searching for roles now and apply to as many as you can.