5 smart ways to find a part-time job when you study abroad

Having a part-time job while studying oversea can not only help you earn extra money but also can enhance your language learning, increase your understanding of the local culture and make more friends. However, it is not always easy to find a part-time job when you come to a new country. Here I provide 5 smart ways to help you find a part-time job.

1. Check you visa permission to work

Every country has different regulations. It is important to check you working permission in your visa with the country embassy.

In the UK, you can work a part-time job with a tier 4 visa. However, it depends on your course level and sponsorship (Visas and Immigration, 2020). Tier 4 visa allows international students to work 10/20 hours per week in term time. I took an art marketing distribution staff offer in Lincoln Performing Arts Centre as a part-time job.
According to the Ministry of Education in China, international students can have part-time jobs after they get permission from their academic institution. 
Cambodia doesn’t have limited working hours. I applied for an internship as Sales and Marketing in term time and worked every weekday.
GoOversea has provided a general working permit introduction in different countries for international students. 

2. Go to the careers and employability centre

An ideal place for an international student to find a job.

After you get the permission to work part-time, you can go to the university careers and employability centre. They provide great support for students including CV building, careers event, skills assessment, etc. 

I found my part-time job at the careers and employability centre in the University of Lincoln which provided lots of information on job roles recruitment, cover letter, CV building and even oversea opportunities after my graduation. 

3. Job opportunities website/ social media

Social media creates a significant outlet for young jobseekers (Mowbray et al., 2016). Around one-third of the employees in the UK find their jobs via social networks (Franzen and Hangartner, 2006). This identifies the importance of social media which have great job opportunities.

I made full use of job opportunities websites and social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) to find a part-time job as a dance tutor.
Successfully, I was recruited in Dance Academy Cambodia and M Dance in Stamford, UK. I enjoy sharing my choreography with my students. We formed a small show group to perform in different places. I made lifelong friends during teaching dancing. This is really fantastic. 

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Type “Dance studio in Cambodia; dance studio in the UK” – Find out the studios near you and send them a message to ask if they need to recruit any dance tutor – If yes, send your CV and video to them; If no, you could still send it. Maybe they will need you at some point – Negotiate your wages, teaching schedule, transport expense – Make an agreement or contract with them – Begin your work and leave the best first impression to make them hire you regularly – YOU GOT IT

4. Work from home

Online working needs specific skills such as language tutoring or digital marketing skills (Susan and Elizabeth, 2008).

Teaching languages online is an ideal part-time job. There are several online foreign language platforms where you can teach your own language to foreigners. This can help you improve your own language learning and overcome the language barriers.
Here are some useful online language teaching platforms
Verbalplanet; folaco; Italki; My Lingo Trip; Justlearn; Verbling

If you have working experience, you can ask your employer if they want to hire you as a freelancer while you study abroad. I work for my previous employer (Realestate.com.kh) and continue to work as a digital marketing freelancer. It is beneficial that I can apply what I have learnt in the university to the real working place.

5. Volunteering

Group volunteering could enhance a sense of belonging and individual mental health and wellbeing (Gray and Stevenson, 2019). 

Volunteering is such a good chance to learn from work and make friends.
In Cambodia, I volunteered to collect food and household products from society and send them to a remote village. When I experienced real life in poor areas, I felt empathetic for poverty. I felt like I had a responsibility to help them. Surprisingly, I made lots of friends during my work.

In the UK, I volunteered at the Frequency Festival and 2Q Festival. This makes me learn more about the event industry regarding my degree. Don’t be afraid of asking the people around you for volunteering opportunities.

Working a part-time job is so interesting and beneficial. Make sure to get the working permission from your visa and university. And get ready for work. If you have more useful advice, welcome to comment below or contact me by email: caiyongpian@gmail.com

References:
Franzen, A., and Hangartner, D. (2006). Social networks and labour market outcomes: The non-monetary benefits of social capital. European Sociological Review, 22(4), 353-368. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/esr/article-abstract/22/4/353/2763420 [access 7 March 2020].
Gray, D. And Stevenson, C. (2019) How can ‘we’ help? Exploring the role of shared social identity in the experiences and benefits of volunteering. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 1-13. Available from: https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/casp.2448 [access 7 March 2020].
Mowbray, J., Hall, H., Raeside, R. And Robertson, P. (2017) The role of networking and social media tools during job search: an information behaviour perspective. Information Research, 22(1), 1-18. Available from: http://informationr.net/ir/22-1/colis/colis1615.html [access 7 March 2020].
Susan F. A., Elizabeth M.T. (2008). Developing student knowledge and skills for home-based social work practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 44(1), 125-143. Available from: https://browzine.com/libraries/1254/journals/68554/issues/current [access 7 March 2020].
Visas and Immigration (2020) General student visa (Tier 4). United Kingdom: GOV.UK. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa[access 7 March 2020].
Mowbray, J., Hall, H., Raeside, R. And Robertson, P. (2017) The role of networking and social media tools during job search: an information behaviour perspective. Information Research, 22(1), 1-18. Available from: http://informationr.net/ir/22-1/colis/colis1615.html [access 7 March 2020].