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Part Time Jobs WebChat
Name Transcript
Jenny : Hi, welcome to this part time jobs WebChat, we hope you find it useful. Your experts today are Scott and Sarah.

Please note that any information given during this discussion should not be considered expert legal advice. You should seek further confirmation or advice on issues such as tax, national insurance and legal rights directly from qualified sources or websites, some of which will be referred to in the discussion.

Please ask any question you might have by typing into the box at the bottom of the screen, and pressing ‘submit’
Scott : Hi everyone, my name is Scott, I manage the placements and part time jobs service here at the Careers Service, happy to take any queries you might have.
Sarah W : Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm a member of the work experience unit here at the Careers Service.
Scott : We tend to get a lot of queries at this time of year about national insurance, as its a very new thing for international students in particular, knowing where to go.
Andrew : How much can I get paid doing part time work?
Scott : Part time jobs vary a great deal in what they pay, most jobs we advertise are typically from the minimum wage level (main rate £5.52 per hour from 1st Oct 2007) up to £6.50 or £7.00, but other jobs can pay much higher, for example delivering private tuition, translation/interpreting or IT. Many jobs that we advertise state the rate in the advert. The wage rate is usually given as the amount before any tax (if any is deducted).
luv : hi my question is : Are there any good places in fallowfield where i can apply for a job coz i stay at owens park?
Sarah W : I can't give you a specific list of places in Fallowfield to look for work (as it will all depend on what type of work you are interested in) but hope this helps:
There are lots of places in Fallowfield where you might want to look for a part time job. A lot of them might be in the bars, pubs and shops there. Often they tend to advertise vacancies in the window as they get lots of people past every day. It's worth asking in the shops and bars etc if they have any vacancies and how to apply. Also ask in Owens Park itself as they might have jobs available for students as well.
luv : so is there tax deducted from part time jobs?
Scott : You have what is called a Personal Allowance below which you do not pay any tax. For this tax year the amount the allowance is £5035, above which you start paying tax. If you don’t work much you might not have to pay any income tax at all, but if you work during the summer as well as part time, or do a placement the chances are that you will need to start paying tax at some point.

You only have to pay National Insurance contributions (a type of tax) once you earn over a certain amount (over £97 a week 2006-07 figures). This in addition to your income tax.

If you are employed (rather than having your own business) then your employer will deduct both from your wages as appropriate. This is called Pay As You Earn (PAYE). If for any reason you are self employed then you have to declare your earnings directly to HM Revenue & Customs, and it is more complex. For advice see: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/
biko07 : HI
could you give a good website to find part time jobs in south manchester?
Scott : The Careers Service advertises lots of jobs on behalf of employers throughout the year. Many of these are in central or south Manchester, and are advertised on our website at: http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/,

You can also sign up on our website to get vacancies emailed direct to you. To access the vacancies and do this, you need to log in to our site. Your login and password are your standard university login and password. Once you’ve logged in, you can sign up to receive vacancies by email if you want to or you can just search the vacancies online.

You can get paper copies of these in a bulletin called ‘Career Options’, and on the Part Time Jobs notice boards we have in our Careers Resource Centres at Crawford House and Renold Building.
Scott : biko07, there are some other websites you might want to take a look at as well as ours:

www.fish4jobs.co.uk - advertises jobs nationally
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk - has full time as well as part time, but worth checking
www.sliversoftime.com - casual part time jobs website, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Scott : biko07, you can also try local newspapers. Two of the best to look at in the Manchester area are the Manchester Evening News and Metro.

The Manchester Evening News prints vacancies between Tuesdays and Thursdays generally. The Thursday paper is often best as it has a specific jobs section in it each week. It covers full time jobs as well as part time ones so you may find there are things in there which aren’t always suitable.

The Manchester Evening News is available free in the city centre area – which includes the University Precinct Centre on Oxford Road and Student Union at Barnes Wallis Building on North Campus. Spar and Finlay’s Newsagents in the Precinct Centre get copies of the paper each day which are free to take away. A reference copy is also available in the Careers Resource Centres at Crawford House and Renold Building.

The Metro is a free paper which is often available on buses and trains in the region. Some part time jobs are included in the vacancies which they advertise, so it might be worth checking out.
Sarah W : Just to add to Scott's message about newspapers, Student Direct sometimes has adverts from companies wanting part time staff in it. It's not every week but if you're picking a copy up anyway it might be worth checking!
luv : what kind of IT jobs can I get?
Scott : As the number of part time IT related jobs that we receive has been increasing, it may be possible to find something that suits your preferences. In recent years we have advertised jobs for webs designers/developers, programmers, IT support, database developers, flash animators and Mac designers. However, it is difficult to predict when these will be advertised, so ensure you sign up to get vacancies by email at:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/vacancies/
hollyberry : What kind of jobs do you advertise?
Scott : Many of the jobs we receive are in hospitality (bars, restaurants, hotels, catering), sales/retail, customer service and marketing. However increasingly we get jobs relating to translation/interpreting, IT, web design, administration, freelance journalism, tuition/teaching, sports coaching, or security. We also receive one off jobs which could be doing anything. We even had a job for walking a lecturer’s dog on one occasion!
Chi : Am I allowed to work for two companies at once? Part-time roles of course
Sarah W : It is possible but you might want to make sure that you don't work too many hours each week. We recommend working up to 15 hours per week so that you can balance it with your studies and other commitments.
I'm not sure about any tax implications of working for two different employers at the same time so it would be worth checking HM Revenue and Custom's website to see what they say about it at:http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students
Sarah W : the direct link to the information about working for 2 different employers from HM Revenue and Customs is: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students/two_pt_jobs_pa_on_both_9_3.htm
luv : Is there a chance to get a job at MAN.UTD. stadium?
Sarah W : Hi Luv - Yes it is possible as Manchester United have lots of part time opportunities available throughout the year. You can find information on their website but I'd recommend coming along to the Manchester Student Part-Time Jobs Fair next Thursday, 4th October as they are attending.
The Fair is at the Sugden Centre on Grosvenor Street from 11am until 3pm. Manchester United are coming along and you'll be able to find out about opportunities with other employers in the Manchester area as well.
For more details about the fair you can visit the information pages on StudentNet at: http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/events/careersfairs/manchesterstudentpart-timejobsfair/
hollyberry : I want to find a job related to my degree (Fashion retailing), do you have any suggestions?
Scott : There are plenty of jobs in the city centre as well as places like the Trafford Centre, related to fashion retail. Many of these shops advertise in the shop window or you can ask inside. We do get jobs advertised but I am sure there are many that we don't hear about directly. Take a copy of your CV with you and always make sure you are presentable, reasonably smart/stylish rather than dressed down too much.
Sarah W : Hi everyone - as I've mentioned to Luv we are holding at Part-Time Jobs Fair next week on Thursday 4th October. There are 26 employers attending on the day to let you know about the part-time, temporary and seasonal opportunities that they have available. If you want to know more, you can visit our information pages online at: http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/events/careersfairs/manchesterstudentpart-timejobsfair/
Or feel free to ask me any questions you might have!
tamzeed : Is it possible to contact some of the employers now or should we wait till the 4th?
Sarah W : You might want to wait until the Fair so that you can speak to them on the day. The vacancies which they are offering do not have details on the Careers Service website at the moment (and they'll only go live once the Fair has been held).
I'd recommend coming to the Fair to see them and find out exactly what they are offering. On the day, you'll get a Fair Guide which has details of all the vacancies in it and contact details for the companies.
Sarah W : Tamzeed - as well as checking out the list of employers coming to the Fair, you might also want to have a look at the vacancies which are being advertised through the Careers Service. Lots of companies have started sending in part time jobs now that term has started and students are back on campus.

To check the vacancies, you just need to log on to our website with your university username and password and you can search specifically for part-time jobs. The login pages are: http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/vacancies/
maria_k : hello, i need to find a part time job related to my field :english translation languages or something that will me improve those! any thoughts?
Scott : Hi maria_k, I am not sure I understood what you meant? Do you mean your degree is english, or is it other languages, or related to translation? Can you please clarify?
maria_k : first degree was in english lang , now my MA is in translation but i speak spanish, greek and french as well
Scott : We get quite a few jobs related to interpreting and translation, both one off jobs for clients and also through translation agencies, for many languages. These come through our website/vacancy emailing system, and you can also look at our International Talent website, which is a new service that started this year. Very much focused on part time jobs and placements using languages and knowledge of other cultures. The website is: www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/internationaltalent
Scott : International Talent often works with smaller business that need help making contact with overseas clients or suppliers, translating documents or having an interpreter for overseas visitors, so great ways to practice your language and translation skills maria_k.
maria_k : thank u. and something more. this Pay As You Earn tax is deduced from the total amount of money u get every month, right? and the wage advertised by employers
is before this deduction?
Scott : Yes maria_k, that's right. If you are employed by an organisation (rather than self employed) the employer deducts your tax and national insurance contributions (if any need to be paid) before you get your payslip. This is sometimes put on your payslip as 'PAYE'. The wage advertised by the employer is called gross salary and it before any deductions are made. What you get in your pocket is called net salary.
Andrew : I haven’t had any previous work experience – will this work against me?
Scott : Some part time jobs may require previous work experience, and recruitment agencies often prefer this, however many employers are open to recruiting someone who has the right basic skills and enthusiasm as training will be provided. When applying make sure you highlight some of the key skills of communication, team working, initiative and any others relevant to the role, by using examples drawn from other parts of your life, like study, any course projects, positions of responsibility, sports and hobbies. We have a CV guide to help you come up with ideas for this at:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/downloads/publications/essentialsseriesofhandouts/parttimejobs-findingandapplying/
Marv : Hi. I don't have very much free time, so i'd like to find some work on the university campus. what kind of thing is there? and how do i find it?
Sarah W : There can be lots of work on campus in all sorts of different places including the Student Union, Libraries and many of the different Schools. The University does recruit for part time and temporary staff, but the hours don’t always fit around your studies, and in some case might be temporary but full time.

To find these jobs, often the best action is to ask around in your School or in different places like the Union or Library, as many of these jobs are not advertised. Many of these jobs also go through recruitment agencies such as Office Angels and Blue Arrow, where you will be competing against external candidates.

See the following link for more information on this topic:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/workingwhilestudying/findingopportunities/jobsoncampus/
Marv : Do you recommend finding jobs through recruitment agencies?
Sarah W : We don’t recommend specific recruitment agencies and always suggest that you remain aware that you are dealing with an organisation that works for/is paid by the recruiting client, not you. They often look for previous work experience so if you haven’t worked before it will probably be better to look for other ways to find a job initially. Having said that, some sectors like hospitality source lots of temporary events staff through agencies so you might find lots of opportunities which are available through them and not advertised in other sources.

You should approach agencies in a professional manner and can expect the same professional courtesy from them. See our guide to dealing with recruitment agencies:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/findingwork/recruitmentagencies/

We are aware of a number of agencies both in the Manchester area and further away. Some of these will be generalist high street agencies, others specialise in areas like IT, admin/secretarial, or industrial. You can access this list from the above web link and search depending on what you are looking for. You will also find a list in our careers resource centres at Crawford House and Renold Building.
Qian : I am an international student. do i need a visa to work part time? do i need a national insurance number also?
Scott : If you are an international student your visa usually allows you to legally work up to 20 hours during term time, you shouldn't need a special visa for that. However we recommend to all students that they do no more than 15 hours per week so it does not affect your studies. You should also check your programme handbook for the attendance requirements, if you have a lot of lectures or study commitments you may find it difficult to fit in that many hours.

You will need a national insurance number in order to work in the UK. A National
is a way for the government to track your contribution toward certain Social Security benefits which you can receive in the UK, and toward a state pension. UK citizens receive a number when they are 16, but if you are an international student you will need to obtain one at the point that you start working in the UK.

You only have to pay National Insurance contributions (a type of tax) once you earn over a certain amount (over £97 a week 2006-07 figures). However, even if you earn less than this you still need to obtain a number, so that you don’t get overcharged for tax and National Insurance. You can find out more at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Custom’s (HMRC) website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students

There is a common misconception (particularly by employers who do not know the system) that you have to obtain a NI number before you start work. However, this is not true. You can only apply for a NI number once you have received an offer of employment or have actually started work and have some paperwork to show when you apply. That could be an offer letter, or even a payslip. If you face difficulty convincing any employers about this, show them a copy of the following leaflet, which has a note to employers stating that it is legal to employ you before you have a NI number: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students/workleaflet.pdf you can get these in print at the Careers Service.

To apply for a number, ring the Job Centre Plus on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme on 0161 912 8300 or go in to make an appointment. There is often a delay in receiving your number so make sure you give it to your employer when it arrives, so that you don’t get overcharged tax and NI.
hollyberry : I feel I was discriminated against at an interview. What can I do?
Scott : It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against your application on the grounds of sex, race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief or age. You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think you were unfairly discriminated against, however you may wish to seek further advice to discuss the situation in detail.

From October 1st 2007 there will be a new Commission for Equality & Human Rights where you can get information: http://www.cehr.org.uk/

Also check our website for links to other sources of legal advice:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/workingwhilestudying/thelawandstudentwork/employmentrights/
Jenny : Thank you all very much for participating in this WebChat. The transcript of this chat will be available on the careers service website. You can also find more information on the part time jobs fair on this website.

Please take a couple of minutes to fill out a very short feedback form to tell us what you thought of the chat. www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/feedback