Students at work to earn extra cash, bolster CV
Student insurer Endsleigh has found more university students than ever are taking part time work to bolster their CV and earn extra cash.
Endsleigh, specialists in insurance for university students, have found that eight out of ten students are now opting to work alongside their studies.
Endsleigh's research points to the desire to improve job prospects after university as a leading cause behind this jump in students finding part time work. In fact, 87% of those surveyed by the NUS Insights Team and Endsleigh said bulking up their CV and additional skills were one of the reasons they got a part time job.
Manager of the Student and Graduate Markets at Endsleigh, Sarah Newell, reflected that many students are looking to part time work to gain work experience and help cover the costs of education.
"There is no doubt that being employed whilst at university serves a dual purpose and a considerable number of students are looking to bulk up their CVs to enhance their future job prospects," she said.
Sarah also noted that there is increasing pressure on students to maintain good financial footing.
"We have seen a huge leap in the number of students finding employment whilst at university. While many still rely on their parents and student loans as main sources of finance, unexpected costs at university mean that many are looking for jobs to help ends meet."
Endsleigh reported that over half of the students surveyed found university to be more expensive than they expected. 57% of students listed the cost of bills, accommodation and food as reasons to find a part time job, while 56% also needed the cash for socialising.
Last year, Endsleigh recorded that only 59% of students were working alongside their degree and 57% the year before that, compared to this year's 77%. Such a large increase in the number of students working suggests that students are more conscious than ever of being financially sound and having a well-rounded CV when they graduate.