Can anyone get a part-time job?

UU

Hi there!

I'm starting college in Trinity as a fresher. I'll be studying French and Russian. The thing is, I'm hoping to get a small part-time job for college but it is freaking impossible! I mean, I only need minimum hours and minimum wage. I've had a few callbacks but none have been successful at all. Is it just me (my destiny) or is it like really difficult to get a crappy job in a shop these days? Is there any organisation out there which tries to find jobs for college students?

Furthermore, what hours/days to most students usually work for convenience? What is the best way of going about getting a job for college?

Tricity Bendix

Tried the library or the SU shops?

nutball

Sign up to the SU jobs list. It is your friend. I don't have the email address to hand, but I'm sure it'll be on their website. I found both my last and my current part-time jobs from it.

Other things: wearing out shoe leather often pays dividends. Just leave your CV in everywhere - regardless of whether or not they have signs up. Also, the 'Situations Vacant' sections in the Evening Herald or the Irish Independent can sometimes be useful. And if you're just looking at convenience stores etc., then diversify your search. Call centres, souvenir shops, offices looking for P/T admin staff, jewellery shops, cinemas, whatever...

Some people find that doing a full day's work on a Saturday works for them, but personally, I'd prefer to work a couple of short shifts during the week and reserve my weekends for self-indulgence, trips, sleeping, etc. There's nothing worse than having to drag yourself out of bed on a Saturday morning just to clock in some place. At least if you're doing a few hours in the evening somewhere, you're (probably) already out and about.

Also - you could try getting a job in College: the Catering crowd take students on and I've known a few people who've done a bit of cleaning on Saturday mornings for pretty respectable money. The SU shop might be worth a go as well. There's also seasonal stuff like setting up for the Open Day in December which can be a welcome source of funds for the Christmas season. And submitting yourself to psychological trials for a tenner a pop.

If all else fails and you were half decent in school, give a few JC/LC grinds for €30/hr and you'll soon be sorted.

UU

Thanks for your suggestions.

I've just sent an email with 'suscribe list' to sujobs@tcd.ie. Maybe I might get a few hours a week. *fingers crossed* Although, there'll be a race to get jobs in the college come october or even now!

Also, tomorrow I'm going down to my local FÁS office so that they can help me find some job vacancies.

Danger Bob

SU jobs is in a kind of limbo right now but all the info that was generally sent out in the e-mail will just be kept on an employment page on the new website. (well that's the plan afaik) It'll be up as soon as possible.

On the subject of grinds, I'm currently compiling the new list of Postgrads who'll give grinds to undergrads and it'll go online in the next week or so. After that, we'll be putting together a list of undergrads willing to give grinds to JC/LC students so if anyone's interested in that, drop me an e-mail to education@tcdsu.org and I'll get back to you as fast as I can. (Please don't PM me through here as my inbox goes rather funny sometimes.)

Keep an eye on noticeboards - you should see plenty of signs up come Freshers' Week for postgraduates looking to experiment on random students. Plus there's always the brilliant An Post job which come about every Christmas: you should get some information through the SU jobs list in November on that.

Awayindahils

Just to clear something up. You can't actually subscribe to the SU job list without having a tcd email can you?

Crash

no, not unless you could supply your student number.

Why not? It's a person behind the controls.

How do you guys get the hours you want? I've been looking for ages now and all the 'part time' jobs seem to be EVERY day from 8.30 to 12, or the whole weekend. How do people get a couple of evenings during the week? Is the SU shop flexible like that? Is it hard to get a job there?

Crash

SU shop is *kinda* flexible like that, i think, from talking to people in my class who worked there. as for getting the hours you want, its easier if you've worked the job during the summer, they're usually more willing to keep you on on cut down hours.

Sangre

I had no problem getting one with a UCD degree.

Nietzschean

i dunno i'm not sure these trinity students really want to work cleaning toilets. do you use your ucd degree as a cloth?

You needed a degree to get a part time job????

Shows the value of a UCD degree!!

UU, you just have to leave your CV in everywhere
One job that my flatmate did in first year was promotions - it was great, we lived off meteor jellies for weeks! Plus I kept getting loads of free t shirts and stuff.

RagShagBill

I went looking no more than a week ago. Dropped 5 CVs into five different bookshops. Had an interview yesterday, and on the train back I got a call offering me the job. Easons on Dawson Street, which is essentially perfect. 15 hours a week; most on Saturday and Sunday, but 2 or 3 hours late on Thursday.

Dave Larkin

I know exactly how you disgruntled job seekers feel. I left in a bunch of CV's over the summer, resulting in three interviews, all of which I was refused for. One place never even got back to me. I had to go looking for them, lol. It's difficult, but this SU option seems promising. I'll definitely be looking into it.

My advice echoes what everyone else said - leave in as many CV's as possible, all of them looking as professional as possible. Good luck.

Crash

on the other hand, there's nothing better than coming out of an interview going "....I got that. there's no way that job ISN'T mine."


and now I work in a cinema bar. Joy of joys.

Black_Couch

a bar in a cinema? Where?

Pet

Cineworld (formerly known as UGC). Stalk him, go on, do it.

Crash

Pff, everyone I know shows up in there at some stage. and then I threaten to bar them. good times.

Nietzschean

its only good times once i start getting free films!

shay_562

There's at least 7 shops in Nutgrove (in Rathfarnham) looking for part-time staff, just basic customer service stuff (including, as of 12 hours ago, mine !*happy-dances*) Don't know if that's of any use to any of the posters here looking for work, since I don't know where any of ye live, but figured I'd mention it anyway.

Crash

hehehe working in nutgrove? time for some harassin'

&#231

&#231 wrote: »

hehehe working in nutgrove? time for some harassin'

Yeah. Worked in Tesco there one summer, didn't like it. Plus if you're planning on working during college, I'd have thought it that it would be better to get a job in town, or else near town.

Crash

pff, i was just talking about harassing Niall I think i'm sticking with the cinema for the college year.

&#231

&#231 wrote: »

pff, i was just talking about harassing Niall

Ah ok. That can be done.

shay_562

hehehe working in nutgrove? time for some harassin'

Good luck. I only have 4-5 more shifts and then I'm finished forever (and not a moment too soon), whereas you'll be in Cineworld for the next year...watch your back!

Plus if you're planning on working during college, I'd have thought it that it would be better to get a job in town, or else near town.

Not necessarily. I worked in Xtra Vision Rathfarnham last year, and it actually worked out a lot better than working in town, since I was within a mile of my house (making it easy to get to/from weekend work, or home after midweek work) and right on a bus route, so getting there from town was handy enough.

John

Once you're working close to where you're living and have ample transport you should be able to manage your time right. Anyone living in halls should consider looking for jobs in Dundrum as it's easy to get to from both halls and college.

Andrew 83

This may sound slightly bizarre but a good way to guarantee frequent part time work at good pay for the hours you want is to get a coaching qualification in a sport you're interested in and play. I got a badminton coaching qualification when I finished school and have been in constant employment with it ever since at both primary and secondary school level at very good pay. I find that they tend to need people who can work during the day on weekdays which suits students very well so they're happy to work around your hours.

EDIT: Another good one along the same lines is to qualify as a soccer referree. The training course lasts a Saturday as far as I know and one of the training days they do is usually in Trinity. Once you're qualified there's so many leagues around Dublin (even the Trinity Megaleague and UCD Superleague) that you'll never be short of work. I'd say you could often do two games on a Saturday and another two on a Sunday for about 20-25 euro per game.

sully-gormo

Sorry to drag an old thread up, but as it now seems ill need a job during xmas, whats the An Post like? Pay? How long does it last?

(I think it was myth who mentioned it)

I think you work for around 6 or 8 days, and all I remember is getting several cheques. Plus tips from some doors!

Usually you start around the 14th or so, and finish on Chrimbo Eve. As I said before, invites for applications forms will be sent around at the start of November or so.

How much would you generally make from that job? I'm in need of a large chunk of cash. And is it advertised on the SU Jobs list?

Couple of hundred? Can't remember exactly. And yes.

Crash

by the way, if anyones looking for christmas work, m&s are looking for xmas staff atm.

sully-gormo

&#231 wrote: »

by the way, if anyones looking for christmas work, m&s are looking for xmas staff atm.

anywhere else??; sumthing for the few weeks after xmas as well is whatd be really nice. i didnt know theyd started hiring already, ill have to start sending out CVs in a week or two.

nikolaitr

Apply in M&S Mary street..they are hiring 100 people for Xmas...If you work hard they will keep you.

It's fun working there. Plus they will likely give you weekend hours and one late night...Suinday is great for money plus you get 2 weeks X mas bonus

Pet

Oooh, if you get a job with M&S, you get to take home their almost-out-of-date food. You'll live like a KING, for CHEAP!

nikolaitr

Pet wrote:

Oooh, if you get a job with M&S, you get to take home their almost-out-of-date food. You'll live like a KING, for CHEAP!

Ye know too much

Awayindahils

The two Ice-rink venues also start hiring soon for Christmas.

spacecoyote

you'll find tons of part-time work will start popping up now over next couple weeks. All of the shops on Grafton strret & surrounding areas will be starting to take on all the christmas staff so finding a job shouldn't be a problem. Try getting one early as possible though as the staff taken on right before christmas tend to be let go shortly afterwards, whereas if you get started quickly & put in a bit of decent work you're more likely to be kept on afterwards

UU

Yay! I got a nice part-time job in 'Domino's Pizza' in Dundrum. They pay €8.55 per hour and have flexible times. I'm working from 5pm-9/10pm three evenings a week - Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, which fits in perfectly with my college timetable. I got it by apllying online at http://www.jobs.ie/.

Just keep trying, you'll get something eventually.

The_Radiator

Well done!

Crash

Thinking of quitting mine actually. will be time for a cv run around fairly soon

John

UU wrote:

Yay! I got a nice part-time job in 'Domino's Pizza' in Dundrum. They pay €8.55 per hour and have flexible times. I'm working from 5pm-9/10pm three evenings a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which fits in perfectly with my college timetable. I got it by apllying online at http://www.jobs.ie/.

Just keep trying, you'll get something eventually.

If I call in do I get free pizza?

UU

John wrote:

If I call in do I get free pizza?

Sorry! As much as I'd love to, I don't make the pizzas, only answer the calls.

Although we are doing a special offer at the moment that if you buy one large pizza and four drinks, you get a second large pizza absolutely free!

sully-gormo

They must love you in Dominos, ur doing their advertising for them!
But wouldnt the hours be a bit of a pain- Friday and Saturday Nights?

WunderFull

Radio stations often advertise vacancies.

UU

sully-gormo wrote:

But wouldnt the hours be a bit of a pain- Friday and Saturday Nights?

Well Friday and Saturday nights are their busiest nights so it is a requirement that I work those nights. Anyway, i plan on going out on Thursday nights and I finish work at 10.00pm so I can go out afterwards if I want. Thus, they pay a nice €8.55 per hour and have very flexible hours.