For many high school students in the UK, taking on a part-time job is a great opportunity to not only gain some experience and pocket money but also to develop some very important life skills that might be useful throughout their lives. By managing their schoolwork together with part-time employment, students may learn time management and responsibilities. Different jobs which high school students can get in the UK will be discussed in this article, along with how they can apply for these jobs, how much they are expected to get paid, and some hints about doing an eye-catching CV.
Part-Time Jobs for High School Students
Many high school students look for part-time jobs or weekend jobs that will fit around their studies. Such jobs do not require work experience; therefore, they are CV ideas for students who have just started working. Some common job roles available in the UK for high school students are listed below:
- Retail Assistant
Many shops and department stores also need the help of teenagers in shelving stock, maintaining inventory, and such customer-based jobs. Retail jobs occur more often on weekends and holidays when the flow in the shops is more.
Salary: Present minimum pay for 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK is £5.28 per hour. Some retailers will pay more; this can include larger towns and cities or busier periods.
How to Apply: Application for retail jobs can be made by simply going to the store and asking for a job application form, or the website of the company can be visited for postings. Popular job stores that regularly offer part-time job opportunities to students include Primark, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer.
- Waiter/Waitress
Waiter or waitress jobs in either restaurants or cafes are just as ordinary for a high school student. One will serve customers, take orders, and occasionally would be asked to do a certain task in the kitchen. It is truly a very good job to gain experience in customer service.
Salary: Waitstaff get paid from £5.28-£8.00 per hour. There is also the option of getting a tip. Restaurants or cafes that are situated in busy areas or cities may increase the pay.
Application: Most restaurants entertain walk-in applications. Students can also visit cafes or restaurants in their locality with bio-data and inquire about vacancies. They can go onto some popular job portals like Indeed or Glassdoor to check the availability of openings.
Another very popular option amongst students who work well with children is babysitting. Babysitting often offers quite flexible work in that one can work on evenings or weekends when parents would like to find someone to take care of the children.
Salary: Normally, a babysitter can earn between £8.00 and £12.00 per hour. This sum depends on how old the kids are and how long the job will be. You can earn more working in London or any other major city.
How to apply: Students can offer their babysitting services to neighbors, family friends, or even advertise online on websites such as Childcare.co.uk. They can build some sense of trust if they have references from one’s family or friends.
- Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
Dog walking and consequently pet sitting are ideal methods by which students can earn some money while being with animals. The post may include dog walking, feeding the pets, or just staying in at the client’s house to look after the pets while owners are away.
Depending on the area and number of dogs in their care, dog walkers in the UK can make anywhere from £8.00 to £15.00 an hour. Thus, sitting-well, overnight stays-can pay even more.
How to Apply: Dog walking or merely ‘pet-sitting’ jobs can be found by advertising the service to neighbours or through online job sites such as Rover or Tailster. It is advantageous to create a profile noting any previous experience that a student may have with pets.
- Paper Round
Although less frequent nowadays, paper rounds are an option still open in some areas. This is delivering newspapers to homes in the local area, usually at an early morning.
Salary: Paper rounds usually pay £10.00 to £25.00 a week, depending on the route size and the number of papers delivered.
How to Apply: Paper rounds are usually advertised in local newsagents or at the local newspaper company, but it’s also worth asking around as jobs such as this can often be passed around through word-of-mouth.
- Supermarket Assistant
Supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda often advertise for students in part-time assistant roles. This could include stacking shelves, helping customers or working at the checkout counter.
Pay: Supermarket assistants tend to receive the National Minimum Wage for their age, which is £5.28 an hour for those aged 16 and 17 though supermarkets sometimes pay more.
How to Apply: Most supermarkets will advertise the jobs on their website and applicants apply through the website. Alternatively, they may simply pop into the store where they’d like to work and ask if they have any part-time vacancies.
Seasonal Jobs for Secondary School Pupils
They can be accommodated throughout the year, especially during the summer holidays or at Christmas time.
- Christmas Temp Worker
Most shops and businesses take on temporary staff over the period of Christmas, which is one of their busiest periods. Some common jobs include: cashier, gift wrapping, or stock assistant.
Salary: The salary for a Christmas temp worker in the UK would range from £5.28 to £9.00 per hour, depending on the job and the location.
How to Apply: Many retailers begin hiring for the Christmas season in September or October. Check your favourite companies’ websites, or job portal sites like Indeed.com for temporary positions, and apply early to ensure acceptance.
- Summer Camp Assistant
Many summer camps and activity centres also advertise for assistants to help with children’s activities. This could include games, sports, and arts and crafts and would, therefore, be very suitable for students who enjoy working with younger children.
Salary: The rate of pay for summer camp assistants is usually in the region of £6.00 to £10.00 per hour, although this can vary depending on the camp and the level of responsibility.
Summer Camp Jobs: These can be found by just about anybody in a Google search in their city or town. Alternatively, it’s worth asking at local youth centres. Knowledge of sports or experience with children is very welcome when gaining these positions.
How to Apply for Jobs as a High School Student
As a high school student in the UK, it is rather easy to get a job, but there are a couple of things that you might want to note in order to help you along:
Writing a Great CV: You can build a great CV with no or minimum work experience as well. The point of a student’s CV will always circulate around skills, extracurricular activities, and any volunteer jobs or responsibilities. For students, the leadership role may be reflected through conducting school clubs, sports teams, or helping with family chores. Mention the strong points such as reliability, communication, and time management that could be in your favor compared to other candidates.
Look Online and Locally: Many companies advertise their part-time jobs on the web, so students should go through websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, Reed regularly for fresh postings. Additionally, visiting the local business on-site, asking if there is any job vacancy available, would also be worth it. Smaller shops and cafes might not be looking online for someone but quite often will always welcome an opportunity to hire a local student.
Apply Early: Most of the job opportunities for high school students, especially those that are seasonal, may get filled up quite fast. Apply early, in particular, for any holiday jobs or jobs that are in demand, such as retail and restaurant jobs.
Get References: The References will increase the chances of you landing the job. Since you may not have any work experience, it is better to ask your teachers, family friends or coaches to provide a reference explaining your character dependability and work habits.
How Much Can High School Students Earn?
The pay for high school students in the UK varies, considering age, type of job, and employer. For workers who are 16 and 17 years old, the minimum wage is £5.28 per hour as of the year 2024. However, some employers may pay higher wages depending on the role, location, and responsibility that comes with the particular job. Some jobs allow students to earn by way of gratuities, which would be in addition to their pay, such as working in restaurants that receive tips.
Conclusion
Retail and hospitality to babysitting and dog walking-high school students, when it comes to the UK, have a lot of options. Building a good CV in advance and conducting local networking will make it easier for them to find part-time or seasonal jobs. These early age work experiences not only provide extra incomes for the students, but also responsibility, time management, and teamwork skills that will further help them in later education and careers.