London has been and still is one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. Needless to say, this fact makes it a big employment and job opportunities hub, especially for students. It could be everything from part-time jobs to keep oneself afloat while studying to internships that could be instrumental in gaining occupational experience. In this post, we will be considering some of the companies that hire students in London, how to apply, what kind of salary is expected, and who can apply. We will also be comparing student jobs in companies against student jobs offered within universities.
Popular Companies Hiring Students in London
Retail and Hospitality: Major retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer have employed a lot of students for part-time roles cashiering, shelf stocking, and customer service assisting. Also, high-street chains like Pret A Manger, Costa Coffee, and Nando’s employ a lot of students as baristas, wait staff, and kitchen assistants.
Technology and Startups: Several technology startups in London also offer internships and junior positions for students. For example, it could be start-ups like Revolut, Monzo, and Deliveroo seeking students to intern in marketing, customer service, and related-technology fields. The type of student these companies would be seeking would be ambitious, technology-savvy ones that can also work well within a fast-paced company environment.
Large Companies: Large companies like Google, Amazon, and Deloitte also make internships and graduate schemes available to students. Many of these firms will look for students who excel academically and whose skill set matches what a given company requires. Students considering working for a technology firm may be required to know how to code, while students interested in working at a consulting firm would be required to be analytical.
Gig Economy and Freelancing: With flexible hours, the students often move on to gig economy jobs. Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and TaskRabbit allow students to onboard themselves from available gigs to accomplish delivery and odd jobs work, therefore getting popular among those who juggle studies with work.
Universities and Academic Institutions: Most universities in London also have various different student jobs available. Most student roles, ranging from library assistants to student ambassadors and research assistants, are open for students who might want to work inside their university or college environment. Such roles often mean a more academic setting for students and allow them to stay on campus.
How to Apply
Application to student jobs in London might be different for various industries and companies. Nonetheless, the following procedure can be applied generally:
Online Job Portals: Indeed, Reed, Total Jobs, and StudentJob UK are portals where part-time job vacancies and internships for students frequently feature. Applications from students may also be directly made to the companies through their websites. Tailor your application-CV and cover letter-to the job in question by highlighting relevant experience and skills.
University Career Services: Most universities in London have career services that offer job postings, CV critiquing, and interview practice. The career services also run a career fair across various courses whereby students get a chance to meet recruiters and apply directly.
Networking: Students may also do some networking-professional associations, alumni associations, and university events-to find available jobs. Websites like LinkedIn can be a key avenue for students to make contacts with industrialists and view available vacant jobs.
Gig Economy Platforms: In the case of gig economy work, most of the joining processes are quite simple. Most require students to go through some kind of online registration process, prove their identity, and attend short sessions of orientation. Once they are registered, they can immediately accept jobs.
Salaries for Student Jobs in London
There is a variation in salary scale for student jobs in London, depending on the position, industry type, and amount of hours worked. The average salary ranges for some typical student jobs are as follows:
Retail and Hospitality: £10-£12 per hour.
Technology and Corporate Sectors Internships: Full-time internship up to £18,000-£25,000 per year.
Freelance and Gig Economy Jobs: It pays from £8 to £15 per hour, given the platform and nature of the job.
University jobs: £11-£14 hourly for jobs including library assistants and student ambassadors.
The minimum student national wage is approximately £7.49 for students aged 18-20, and the student national minimum wage is approximately £10.42 for those aged 21 and above as of 2023. However, most employers in London usually pay more due to the cost of living.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates are normally expected to fulfill the following requirements in order to be considered eligible for the position of a student job in London:
Student Status: A majority of the employers would want students who are currently enrolled in a university or college program. This way, they will be fulfilling the definition of being “student workers” and can avail themselves part-time for the work.
Work Authorization: International students can work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week in term time, but their Tier 4 Student Visa should be valid. Full-time work can be done when the university is on holiday. EU/EEA students will possibly be required to meet new requirements under post-Brexit rules regarding immigration.
Age and experience: For instance, some sectors like retail or hospitality do not require work experience. Nevertheless, most of the internships and especially jobs within the technology field require a specific skill or experience. Most employers might be in favor of students aged 18 years and above in part-time jobs. Nevertheless, several younger students still secure jobs within different sectors like retail.
Statistics of Student Employment in London
The UCAS estimates that 66% of students in higher education institutions take on employment. Of these, 22% work part-time during terms while 44% combine full-time studies with part-time jobs. Work placements and internships are likewise fairly common; over 35% of students can be said to take work placements at some point in their degree.
University jobs are somewhat more competitive because students tend to run towards the university for campus jobs for convenience and in hopes of having flexible working hours designed around their academic schedules.
Comparing University Jobs with Private Company Jobs
In comparing university jobs with those of private companies, an individual has to consider:
Flexibility: University jobs tend to be more flexible and accommodating of students’ academic schedules. Corporate ones, especially the internship types of jobs, may not be as flexible with schedules. Pay: Many corporate company jobs pay better, especially at tech or consulting firms, whereas university facility jobs are less likely to. In fact, sometimes university facility jobs pay instead with opportunities such as building connections with faculty and using on-campus resources. Conclusion
Getting a job as a student in London will provide you with two main things: financial support and work experience. You may want to look at a job in retail, in the gig economy, or in professional industries-in fact, the list goes on and on. When you apply, be sure to tailor your CV and cover letter accordingly. A student CV template will give ample opportunity to show off your skills and experience in a clear and concise manner that gives a good first impression.
