Top jobs for students

When you tell somebody that you are a student, that somebody will often respond by rolling their eyes, suggesting that you are just another lazy teenager who does not live in the real world.

Student life appears extremely attractive, with its reputation for wild nights out and fantastic opportunities to progress in the world of work.

However due to the extortionate price of going to University, some students do not get the experience that they are looking for.

Unless you are from an extremely fortunate family, it appears that you have to find a part-time job to help fund both your academic and social life.

This could however cause negative impact on your studies.

According to an annual study of student finances by Halifax, 52% of students work to fund their studies and living costs whilst at University.

However, getting a part-time job can prove quite difficult when being a student and you have to find the right balance between paid work and coursework.

I have investigated which jobs I think are suitable for students, during term time, and here are my top five.

1. I believe that the best employer for students is your very own student union.

Here you have a wide variety of jobs, from bar work to administration work.

Employers here are knowledgeable of the structure of University life, when the term begins and ends, and when you will be expected to return home.

Emma Daly, 20, from Hertfordshire works as a lifeguard on campus and supports working for the union, and says that "to say that you have worked for the union will look good on your CV, and most importantly you are not tied to working outside of term time."

Working on campus is also extremely convenient, as you will not have far to travel, and it will not incur any extra travel costs.

Nicola Williams, 21 from Norwich, feels that student union employers are very understanding, and lenient.

"They understand that you are at uni to get a degree, so if you cannot work around exam and deadline times, then you are not looked down on. Unlike other jobs where if you said you couldn't work then they would probably get annoyed!"

Many student unions also employ students for casual work, such as open days, society days and elections, and these are even more convenient as you are only required to work for a couple of hours.

Once you are on the University's system, you will be more likely to be contacted again in the future.

2. Although working in a bar on campus is convenient, fun and sociable, you may want a change from your familiar campus setting.

So why not try working in a bar in the local city? Working in a bar is an extremely sociable job, with flexible hours.

Usually you are expected to work on week nights or weekends, and employers are usually extremely flexible, allowing you to swap shifts with other employees. 12»