Part time jobs & Temporary Work

- how to find vacancies.

Please seek help from your local Connexions office or alternatively you can click onto www.connexions-direct.com were you can find advice on employment, applications or improve on you CV.

In this pack you will find some useful information about job hunting as well as contact details for companies that employ part-time and temporary staff. The list of companies is a snap shot and does not list every company that have opportunities for young people.

The Essentials

The Largest employers of students looking for part-time work are supermarkets, for examples Sainsbury's, Tesco etc.
These are followed by chain shops, such as Marks & Spencer, Boots etc.
Try to start your job search in the morning, companies will be more receptive. And remember that job searching is in itself a full time job! So an early start is required. Your doing yourself no favours waking up in the afternoon!
Avoid going into a shop and asking for a job during their busiest time from 12-3pm.
Always have a copy of your typed CV & Covering letter when job hunting. These documents represent you skills and abilities, so make sure you have checked it for mistakes!
Sports shops such as JD Sports, First Sport and Nike Town are very popular and competition is fierce, hence your chances of success are very small.
You're going to be up against other people with similar skills, so make sure you explain yourself clearly and concisely during an interview.
Be aware that some shops e.g. Gap, Next expect a high level of customer service and you need to know about their company and products.
Apart from shops consider Fast Food Restaurants, Sports/Theatre Venues, Sports Centres, Light Cleaning etc.
If there are no vacancies, ask to leave your CV & Covering Letter on file for future jobs. Don't be disheartened, as there are lots of other places to try.
Don't be disheartened if a company has not got back to you. Try to follow up your applications by giving them a call to find out whether you have been successful or not.
Increase your chances of securing an interview by increasing the amount of application. 2 to 5 applications per week is not enough. Try to apply for as much vacancies as you can, there is no set number.
Job searching takes a lot of effort and planning, so be focused or get some help with your job search.
If you have no success, consider voluntary work half day a week with Oxfam, Scope etc. These are will give you useful retail training and work experience. Also look in Thursday's Evening Standard newspaper.

Always be prepared for an interview, have the answers for these questions below:

Why do you want to work here?
Tell us about yourself?
Tell us about your school experience or previous

Part-time jobs.
What do you think about customer service?
Use the internet to gain information on the company and to prepare yourself. There is lots of free advice on interviews techniques, CV advice, questions to ask during an interview, telephone techniques etc.

Job – hunting takes time and effort. Preparation is essential for success. It is worth handing in your CV into as many retail stores as your can. Vacancies can also be obtained this way. Remember first impressions count, so even if you are dropping off a CV, please dress professional!

Base Connexions Guide to finding Part-time work

For more vacancies check out:
• www.lois.uk.net
• www.fusejobs.co.uk
• www.workthing.com
• www.inretail.com

Good Luck!