The pandemic and Brexit’s effects have led to a labor shortage in the UK. Increasing the cap on working hours for international students is one of the options being studied to address this gap, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said that businesses in the UK “are screaming out for labor.” Research on this theory is still in its early phases and has not yet been confirmed.
If you’re an overseas student hoping to study at a UK institution, you may want to think about working part-time to supplement your income while you’re in school. Working as a barista or in customer service at a café are two options for part-time employment.
It is essential to be aware of the maximum number of hours you are permitted to work each week before looking for jobs. International students are currently allowed to work 20 hours per week in the UK. However, the UK government and ministers are contemplating whether to increase the cap to 30 hours per week or eliminate it entirely. This discussion aims to increase the number of employment opportunities for students and boost the country’s economy.
The Top 3 Part-Time Jobs in the UK for International Students
Find out which of the available part-time employment is the best fit for you as debates and discussions over the additional working hour limits for international students continue. These three are provided:
1. Customer service representative (CSR)
The typical Customer Service Representative (CSR) position involves telephone-based work and flexible hours, making it ideal for overseas students juggling school and employment. The best part about working as a customer service representative is that you may find employment in this industry with just a positive outlook. The average hourly wage for this part-time position in the UK is £ 11.13, according to research.
2. Barista
Given the abundance of coffee shops in this nation, finding employment as a barista is not too difficult. Due to their flexible schedules, students are frequently chosen as employees by coffee shops. The employee discount you receive each time you wish to drink a cup of coffee while on the job is one of the perks of working as a part-time barista. A part-time barista in the UK makes about £9.97 per hour.
3. Teaching Aide
If you’re an international student in the UK searching for a part-time career, you should consider becoming a teaching assistant. They get the chance to support the lecturers, give feedback to students, and, most significantly, develop their professional networks in their own nation, sector of the economy, or field of study. Teaching assistant positions are often only available to graduates and postgraduates. Sometimes undergraduate students can also fill this position to assist with lower-level classes. A teaching assistant can make an average of 9.85 pounds per hour, per PTE.
Certainly, it takes a lot of effort and commitment to obtain a job in the UK. To choose the right one, there are numerous resources available. It is preferable to go to your university’s or college’s career center for advice on writing a resume and reacting during interviews if you are an overseas student in the UK still looking for part-time employment.
References
10 part-time jobs for international students in the UK. (n.d.). PTE. Retrieved from https://www.pearsonpte.com/articles-test-takers-10-part-time-jobs-for-international-students-in-the-uk
4 best part-time jobs in the UK for international students. (2023, February 9). Study International. Retrieved from https://www.studyinternational.com/news/best-part-time-jobs-uk-students/
UK mulls allowing foreign students to work for longer hours. (2023, January 28). The Economic Times. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/work/uk-mulls-allowing-foreign-students-to-work-for-longer-hours/articleshow/97392487.cms
