Working in the UK

We kicked off the autumn international students’ careers programme with the first of our “Working in the UK” sessions. For those who weren’t able to attend I have given a brief summary below.  Details of all our events are available on our website and Facebook group.

Looking for part-time work?

One of the most common questions we get in the careers centre is about finding part-time work. Whilst many student visa’s insist that the student should be able to finance their life and study in the UK, working part-time brings in valuable additional income and develops the skills that employers find so important. During the vacation periods most international students can work full-time if they wish. Part-time work will often not be related to your degree but sometimes you may be able to find a related job that is available locally part-time.

Internships

Internships are work placement schemes offered by large organisations and companies. They are usually very well structured and provide a diverse range of experiences, offering work experience that is challenging and demanding. They are most commonly found in sectors such as IT and finance. International students would generally be able to undertake an internship under their existing student visa.

 

Internships are usually for penultimate year students only and are very competitive (often more than the graduate training schemes), and so it is vital that you apply early. The application process can be long and gruelling, involving application forms and two rounds of interviews. Most internships are offered during the summer period but the application deadlines vary enormously, starting from as early as October through to the February of your penultimate year.

 

There isn’t any “Big List” of internships on offer. Some positions are advertised on the JobOnline website. However to avoid missing deadlines pick up free copies of employer directories from the careers service.   Occasionally organisations may offer Easter/Christmas placements which are ideal for first year students.  Employer websites and directories are the best source for up-to-date information on these.

 

Student interested in a summer internship with Ernst & Young are invited to their campus coffee session on Thursday 27 November. Ask in the careers centre for more details.

 

If you are applying for an internship you may want a careers adviser to check over your application form before sending it off. Contact the careers centre to book a quick-query appointment.

 

Interns must be paid at least the minimum wage unless they work for a non-profit organisation. To find out more, pick up “Know your rights” from the careers centre.

Working in the UK: Paying your way!

This is the second installment from the Job Hunting in the UK seminar.  The previous posting detailed how to apply for a National Insurance number (i.e. your tax number).  It is adviseable to apply for this as soon as you have started working.

Like many other countries, the UK operates a “Pay as you Earn” system.  This is a method of paying income tax. Your employer deducts tax from your wages before paying you your wages. Wages includes sick pay and maternity pay. This means that you pay tax over the whole year, each time you are paid. Your employer is responsible for sending the tax on to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You will have to pay tax if you earn more than £6,035 in the tax year (6/4/08- 5/4/09).

Students who choose to work solely in the holiday periods (summer, Christmas, Easter) may be able to receive wages without tax being deducted. To do this you need to complete a student exemption FORM 38S. However most students prefer the flexibility of working throughout the year.

More information about paying tax for work during studies can be found here.

Remember that in the UK there is a minimum wage.

 

Minimum wage increased

The national minimum wage has increased as of today.  Nobody should be employed at hourly rates less than the national minimum wage.  There are ongoing concerns in the media about some restaurant employers not paying the minimum wage but supplementing staff income using tips.  If you have concerns that you are not being paid the minimum wage, call the minimum wage hotline on 0845 6000 678. The Low Pay Commission are consulting on the issue and you are welcome to submit your views by October 3.

The rates from today are:

• adults (which means people aged 22 and over), £5.73 an hour
• workers aged 18-21, £4.77 an hour – the ‘development rate’