Working while at uni

Working part-time during your studies can help to make you more attractive to graduate employers, develop valuable skills and make you money. Most students work part-time throughout their study or during the holidays to earn money while gaining valuable skills which will make them more attractive to graduate employers. A graduate resume with an empty space under ‘Employment’ will not be very competitive. However, while employers value work experience, they also value good grades and involvement in extra-curricular activities so it is a good idea to try to achieve a balance and to prove you are an all-rounder rather than have excellent achievements in one area at the expense of others. Providing your work doesn’t negatively affect your academic performance, it is a great opportunity to develop generic skills and attributes such as communication, problem solving, leadership and teamwork.

Having a casual or part-time job may also help you to pay some of the costs of studying, but it is important to think of University as a full-time occupation at least during session. Trying to juggle study and part-time work can lead to anxiety and contribute to study problems. Also, be aware that it is almost impossible to earn sufficient funds from part time work to pay for both tuition fees and living costs. There is a limit to the time you have available for work and if you are receiving income support be aware that your allowance can be affected by the amount you earn.

Under immigration regulations, international students must have a ‘Permission to work visa’ from the Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs. This visa will allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during university vacations. Information on how to apply for permission to work is also available from UNSW International Student Services.

Careers and Employment provides a number of employment related services to current UNSW students and graduates. For details of these services see Careers and Employment.

Students interested in casual, part time, vacation and graduate employment, both on and off campus should go to Jobs Online.

Formal Vacation Programs offer paid, degree related work to students, usually at the end of their second last year of study, over the summer holiday period. Some employers use these programs as a selection tool and make offers of graduate employment to the vacationers who have performed well and may not require these students to go through the graduate recruitment process.
However, not all employers offer vacation programs and they can be very competitive and difficult to obtain. If you are unable to secure a formal vacation position you should apply for a part time or temporary job. This will allow you to demonstrate your talents and hopefully you will be able to negotiate to work longer hours during vacation periods. Further information regarding Vacation Work

Volunteer work is unpaid and usually for non-profit organisations. Volunteering is a great way of getting experience in your field or in a field in which you are interested. Through volunteering you will meet and network with a wide range of people who may be able to offer advice and assistance in your job search. It is also a way for you to develop skills that may help you get a job. Volunteer experience shows an employer that you have initiative and motivation and a community spirit.
If you have not had much work experience, volunteering can also be useful when you are writing your cover letter and resume by providing an opportunity for you to demonstrate your achievements. In addressing skills such as communication, client service and teamwork you will then be able to give examples from your study and also from your volunteer work. Employers are very interested in students who are well rounded and have interests outside their studies. Volunteering can earn you valuable points when you are competing for a job.
Before you volunteer it is a good idea to decide on the skills you want to develop and then target work where there is the opportunity to develop these skills. The skills most valued by employers include:

Benefits for you include:

See Volunteer Work for further information and a list of organisations that organise placements.