Although unemployment seems to have dropped and reports have been suggesting an improvement in the labour market, there are a lot of people claiming that a rise in part time positions, and part time jobs is leading to these skewed figures.

We are still hearing of lots of companies that are cutting substantial amounts of jobs – just recently Bombardier announced 2000 job cuts, and TJ Hughes 150 full and part time jobs. On the other side of the spectrum though, in the same kind of timeframe we’ve heard that Pizza Hut are looking to create 5000 new positions (both full time and part time) over the next 9 years as they expand their operations and need the extra staff. Supermarkets too seem to be creating more positions – last week it was reported another 200 jobs would be created,  and a new Morrisons store potentially bringing employment to another 350 people in Suffolk.

Are companies filling their positions with more part timers though? We don’t have enough evidence to suggest there is a substantial shift in how employers recruit – and with part timers eligible for the same benefits and rights as full timers it’s hard to see where the benefit would be for any shift.

What it does potentially suggest though is that the earnings per worker is becoming lower – as more and more people make do with part time jobs rather than full time positions, average incomes will most likely follow suit and dip. For many people, where their income is already just allowing them to get by, this may well make things yet more difficult.

Job creation – whether for part time or for full positions is a positive sign however. We urge the government to present the figures in a balanced light, and if the drop in unemployment is really partially due to the rise in part time jobs being offered and accepted, then this should be highlighted and studied in more detail. Part timers have gained more and more recognition and parity over the years, and if this market sector carries on growing, it is only right that it has a louder voice.

How do I apply for a job?

Through UK part time jobs you can either apply by email or by being redirected to another website, where you can apply. We work  with a number of other jobsites to get you the best jobs, and to ensure you only have to look for your perfect part time position, in one place!

When will I hear about my application?

As a jobsite we are only able to advertise the vacancies, and any contact after the application is the responsibility of the company to whom you have applied. Some companies will leave contact details for you to chase up applications, but there are others that won’t get back to you. It is then up to you whether you want to chase up your application or assume that they were not interested.

Who are UK Part time jobs

Ukparttimejobs is part of the E4S network. E4S stands for Employment4students, and although our primary mission is to help students find part time jobs, holiday jobs, internships etc, we are also working hard to ensure we try to help anyone looking for a part time job, regardless of whether you are a student or not!

A lot of our jobs will therefore be on both www.e4s.co.uk and www.ukparttimejobs.co.uk

Can I upload my CV on www.ukparttimejobs.co.uk

Currently we are focused on letting candidates apply for jobs as easily and quickly as possible, so we don’t have this functionality. We are constantly developing our platform so this may well change in the future!

Can I work in the UK?

If you are not a British citizen or a citizen of one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, you may need a visa before you travel here. Please check the Direct Gov website here for more information

Please check the criteria required before you apply for a vacancy. If you don’t meet them, then your application will be dismissed, which will have wasted both your and the company’s time.

Should I contact you?

If you are looking for a job, then the resource we will always direct you too is the jobsearch on www.ukparttimejobs.co.uk. We are not an agency, and cannot place people. We simply advertise vacancies for clients. Asking us for a job will get the response “please check our website”.

Can I advertise my vacancies on UK part time jobs?

Yes, and it is completely FREE! You can register by clicking on the “Recruiting – Advertise a vacancy” link at the top right of every page. All you have to do is register, and then post your job. We vet all accounts before they go live to ensure that the safety of all our candidates.

Fraudulent Jobs

We do our best to ensure that only legitimate vacancies are advertised on the UK part time jobs website. We have a number of processes which we adhere too, and we care about your security and safety. If however a job is advertised that you have a concern over, we welcome your emails to let us know. We will take appropriate action based on the email.

Well, it’s true that you might get more money from being on the dole than taking on casual work. So you can sit at home, watch some TV, get your ‘free money’ every week and laugh at your friends for going out to work part time. You would rather hold out for your perfect job and concentrate on applying for those so why should you take on a menial part time job in the meantime?

Let’s take a look at this more closely. Are those friends of yours being silly taking on a part time role when they could be receiving more money from the dole?

Depending on the type of part time vacancies you apply for, it is perfectly possible to earn more money from part time work than you would from receiving state benefits. UK Part Time Jobs has many different types of work available. Many companies will interview you and give you a contract for a certain number of hours per week but if things get busy or other members of staff are off work, it’s the part time staff who get offered the extra hours and therefore, more money in your pay packet. If you’re applying for part time work in the leisure industries, there are also all those extra tips from customers to top up your take home wage.

Improve Your CV

Don’t forget that when you are trying to get jobs, whether part time or full time, your future potential employer is going to want to see what you’ve been up to in the past. Have you been active in the work place or have you been sat at home on your backside? If it’s the latter, does that look impressive on your CV when you are up against other people who’ve been out there trying out different part time jobs? You can use your part time job to fill in gaps in your CV and show future employers how keen you really are so it could be better to start your search now rather than later.

Good for self-esteem

Taking on part time work is fantastic for improving your self-esteem. There’s a sense of achievement in working throughout the week or month and then receiving your wage slip which shows what you’ve earned.

And it’s not just about the money. There’s a sense of achievement in learning new things in your part time job. This can be through training or just general day to day tasks. Recognition that you have completed a course or a certain amount of training can be in the form of a badge or a certificate and you can feel proud that you earned this. Part time staff have the same rights as full time staff so all opportunities a company provides are open to you. Use these opportunities to learn. The workplace is a fast changing world and if you are in the thick of it, it could lead to a successful career in the future if that’s what you are looking for.

Meet Different People

Many different types of people take on part time roles because of the flexibility they provide. When you have a have a part time job, this is your opportunity to come into contact with all these people. It’s a great way to socialise and also of putting yourself in a different frame of mind. For example, you could be a student, parent or carer. Your part time job gives you the opportunity to put your different ‘head’ on and take a break from your regular life. It’s interesting to think that working part time can be your way of relaxing.

If you don’t get much opportunity to go out there and search for part time work, there are many ways you can find work online. Sites such as UK Part Time Jobs advertise posts all over the country and you can narrow your search down to your area.

Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and countless other social networking sites; great aren’t they? These sites have become a part of many people’s day to day life and we tend to take them for granted. They’re certainly here to stay in whatever form. So, why are we thinking about social networking sites? How do they relate to part time work opportunities?

You are visible to everyone

The very nature of social networking is that you are out there, visible for all to see. This is great when you are sharing fun photos with friends and writing silly comments between yourselves. But bear something in mind. If you are set up on these sites so that everyone can see you, your potential new part time employers can also see you. If you go for an interview for a part time job and it is close between you and another candidate, the firm could well search your name on Google and view your online pages.

How social networking sites can catch you out

The first thing you need to bear in mind is that you need to take part time work applications seriously. Your future boss wants to be confident in the fact that he or she is employing an honest, hardworking person no matter how many hours a week you want to work. So, what does your online profile tell potential part time employers about you and is this ‘online you’ different to the person they have just interviewed?

Friend or foe

Let’s consider just one scenario where social networking sites can become your foe as oppose to your friend. It’s not difficult to think of others once you realise the type of things you might be putting on these sites.

You arrange with friends to go out for the day. Everyone’s going to be there and you talk about it and make final arrangements through Facebook. You then get invited for an interview for some casual work you applied for but this day out is so important to you, you decide to phone the company and rearrange the interview for another day because you have a ‘hospital appointment’ on that day. You then go out for the day with your friends, take photographs as a memento…and share them online!

Now put yourself in the head of your potential part time employer if they happen to stumble across this on Facebook or other sites. All your plans are there and photographs – with dates – for all to see. You have told this company you were at the hospital all day.

The company you have applied to needs part time staff who are honest, hardworking and committed to the company. As far as this company is concerned, you have demonstrated that you have not been honest with them. If you haven’t been honest here, are you going to be honest if you are awarded the part time post. The company want someone who is going to be reliable and committed. Have you really demonstrated commitment to that part time job by not even bothering to go to the original interview? That’s how your potential employers are going to view this if they see what you did.

What you can do

It’s all about common sense really. If you are looking for part time work or full time work, go through your online profiles and think about what they say about you. You don’t have to be a hermit. Companies like to know their part time staff are out there enjoying life but you might want to remove a few things.

Change your privacy settings. Are you visible to the whole world (and therefore to the companies you applied for casual work with) world or just to friends and family?

Use these sites to your advantage. Join targeted groups and network with people related to the type of part time work you are looking for. You never know who you might come across in interview!

So, sort your online profiles out and start applying for part time work safe in the knowledge that you are not going to get caught out.

THE single, biggest mistake that most people make when they are trying to get a part time job is to treat the whole process differently to how they would when they are trying to secure a full time job.

For some reason, many jobseekers don’t take things as seriously when they are trying to impress employers who are trying to recruit part time staff. But, all of the same rules apply no matter whether you are trying to find a temporary, permanent, full time or part time position.

So, do your homework, be prepared, present yourself in the best possible fashion – and you’ll give yourself the best chance of landing that part time vacancy!

Where Do I Look For Part Time Jobs?

You could check out local newspapers and shop’s notice boards in your area for potential part time job vacancies. You can also put your best foot forward and have a walk around the big part time employers in your area to ask about current vacancies. All of those are tried and tested methods for a casual job search.

But really, there’s nowhere better to start than the UK Part Time Jobs search pages. From there you can whittle down your search by area and the sort of part time opportunities you are interested in – without ever leaving your laptop. Most of the time you can apply for our part time jobs direct and online. Let us do the hard work for you and save your energy for when your first day at work.

Applying For A Part Time Position

For most of the part time vacancies that you can apply for online with UK Part Time Jobs you will only need to fill out your personal details, background, experience and qualifications with us once. Then, when you apply for the latest part time jobs on our site, your details will be automatically passed on to the relevant employers. This means that you don’t have to keep filling out application forms and sending off CVs left, right and centre. We make the whole process of putting yourself in front of part time recruiters hassle-free.

However, if you are required to make a formal application for a part time job then you should definitely take the paperwork seriously.

Make sure you fill out the application form clearly so that it is easy to read and so all of your best qualities can be taken in at a glance.

Fill in every single question that is required of you; nothing looks worse to an employer than if you didn’t take the time to answer all of the questions that they asked.

Check over the form for spelling errors before you seal the envelope.

If the part time vacancy that you are applying for asks that you send a CV then please have a look at our CVs for Part Time Jobs advice page. If you follow that advice and include a good covering letter then you’ll put yourself in a great position to at least earn yourself an interview for the part time position.

Act Like A Scout

Always be prepared!

Once you’ve found a part time job you fancy and have applied for it, be ready at all times for the potential recruiter to get in touch with you. Leave them with various ways to contact you about the position – address, home phone, mobile phone, email. If possible, ensure that your home and mobile telephones are set up to record messages if you are unavailable. And have yourself ready to respond when they do get back to you – even when a phone call about a part time position comes out of the blue.

In addition to being prepared you should also do your best to keep things organised. Keep good records of which companies you have applied to along with any contact names that you might have stumbled across.

Are My Best Jeans Okay For The Interview?

We would advise against going to an interview for a part time job in anything but smart clothes. Just because it’s a casual job it doesn’t mean you need to go in your casual clothes.

It’s very old advice, but good advice nevertheless – First impressions count!

You wouldn’t dream of going to an interview for a full time job in your jeans and trainers so why take the risk when it’s a part time position you are hoping to grab?

The main thing to keep in mind about interviews is that you should try to stay relaxed, And, so long as you’ve done your homework, that shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s an interview not an inquisition.

You can find more tips and advice about how to win at interviews with our guide to Interviews For Part Time Jobs.

When Can You Start?

So, now you’ve got your part time job, what comes next? Find out how to prepare for your first day in your new uniform at First Day In Your Part Time Job.

Figuring out the tax rules that apply to a UK part time job need not be too over complicated and we will take you through some of the basics below. If, however, you are unsure about how tax relates to your individual situation then we advise you to seek out an expert in the tax field.

What Taxes Will You Pay When Working Part Time?

If you work in a part time position and earn more than the annual threshold (£6,475 for the tax years 2009/10 and 2010/11) then you will have to accept that some income tax will be taken out of your wage. Also, if you earn more than £110 a week (again for tax years 2009/10 and 2010/11) then National Insurance will be deducted from the earnings in your casual job too.

You can find out more about these thresholds from the Directgov website – Income Tax Personal Allowance and National Insurance. These pages offer extra information about tax for both full and part time jobs and should give you up to date threshold figures for future tax years.

Why Do You Have To Pay Any Taxes?

Income tax is a contribution to the government that you must pay if you go over the thresholds outlined above. Any income tax you pay out of your part time job wages goes towards paying for public services that government provides, such as hospitals, police and defence.

National Insurance is a contribution towards your own right to social security benefit entitlements like unemployment benefit, sick pay and the state pension. It is not possible to claim back National Insurance that you have paid through a part time job once it has been deducted.

What Are Your Employer’s Responsibilities?

One thing to note regarding part time work in the UK is that it is illegal for an employer to pay you on a ‘cash in hand’ basis without deducting income tax and National Insurance from your pay packet. It’s just not worth accepting a situation like this when you start a part time job as you could forfeit all of your employment rights and might lose entitlement to benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, sick pay and maternity/paternity pay. If you believe that your employer might not be paying your income tax and National Insurance contributions then you can access advice (discreetly) by calling 0800 788 887.

Your employer is also required to supply you with payslips and give you a P60 form to show you a summary of the tax you have paid in your part time job each year. In addition they should also deduct any student loans payments that are due and give you a P45 if you should ever find yourself leaving a part time job.

More Complex Part Time Job Tax Situations

The situation regarding tax on part time positions can become slightly more complicated if you have more than one casual job at the same time. The Tax Office should supply you with a special tax code in these circumstances and usually you will find that you annual tax allowance is awarded on your main job. You will tend to pay tax at the basic or higher rate (depending on how much you earn in total) on your other part time job or jobs.

Many people that take on part time jobs are students and most of the same rules on tax apply. However, for further details about part time jobs for students and the tax ramifications please look at our Part Time Job Advice For Students guide.

Further Information About Tax Matters For Part Time Jobs

This guide to tax for part time work by UK Part Time Jobs should only be used as a guideline. Tax rules are subject to change so it’s best to check out all of the latest information on part time tax using a reliable source like the Directgov section on tax on casual, part-time or temporary work.

Working in the UK, whether full time or part time, has long been of interest to many overseas visitors from countries all over the world. The UK is famous for its diversity and multi-cultural society, making it an exciting place to live and work. With at least five major cities in the UK being international financial centres, there are a lot of interesting opportunities here for the overseas visitor.

Whether you are a student studying at a British university, living in the UK indefinitely or you are travelling around, UK Part Time Jobs advertises a variety of part time vacancies that might suit your needs. Some part time posts may be just a few hours a week or you might prefer a seasonal post where you work full time throughout the summer and have spare time afterwards. The choice is yours. The advantages of part time work are many, especially if you are a student or you are travelling. Part time casual work gives you the flexibility you need to study or visit the places you came to see. Apart from making the most of all the UK has to offer its visitors, it is also perfectly situated for visiting Ireland and the rest of Europe. A short ferry or train ride will take you to the continent in no time at all and part time work will give you that extra pocket money to explore all these places.

Can I just apply for any part time position?

If you are from overseas, you need to make plans before you come to the UK. If you want to take on any type of work in the UK, part time or full time, check out the UK requirements for a citizen of your country and make sure you have all the necessary paperwork to be able to work legally.

If you arranged your necessary paperwork before entering the UK then waste no time in getting yourself a part time job. There are many websites, including UK Part Time Jobs that advertise part time vacancies for overseas workers. Part time posts that tend to come up most are bar and restaurant work, temporary part time work in offices and seasonal posts.

If you would like to work in a part time capacity in a post that’s geared towards your qualifications or specialisms then you could think about starting your search online before you enter the UK. If a company is interested in employing you then they may be able to help you obtain your necessary paperwork. Once you get a part time post, you are entitled to all the same rights as other workers in the company under British employment law – one of these laws is the National Minimum Wage. A vast majority of employers in the UK will also require you to have a bank account into which they can pay your wages.

Benefits of part time work

There are many benefits for the overseas visitor who seeks par time casual work. We have already mentioned that the extra cash will come in handy in supporting your lifestyle but what else is in it for you? Why else is it useful for you to take on part time work in the UK? Well, the other benefits have nothing to do with the need to increase your cash flow.

Working in a part time capacity in the UK will allow you to learn many new skills that you can take with you to future jobs and further your career. If English is not your first language and you are not very confident with it, where better to improve it than the workplace? You will be fluent in no time. A part time job will also give you the opportunity to make new friends and meet new people from all walks of life who you otherwise might not have met; a completely new and different social circle.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your search for a UK part time post right now.

It’s all part and parcel of being in the workplace. When you have started your part time job, that time of year is going to come where festivities take over, someone will organise ‘the Christmas do’ and you’ll be invited.

These last few months, you have been working really hard and have settled into your part time role very well. You’ve made good progress, attended courses and passed them. You’ve had an appraisal and your boss is pleased with you. You’ve performed above and beyond the call of duty as a part time member of staff by being in early every day and leaving later than you need to all in the name of impressing your new employer. You have every right to feel very pleased with yourself and working part time has been more rewarding for you than you could ever imagine.

How fantastic that it is now Christmas, your boss is throwing a party for everyone ‘because it’s good for staff morale and he wants to say a big thank you to everyone for all their hard work’ and you can let your hair down…BEWARE!

Of course you should go out and let your hair down with all your work colleagues. You’ve made lots of new friends in your new part time job so it will be great for you all to go out and have a few drinks. Won’t it?

If you don’t drink and you just want to go out and have a good time with your part time work colleagues then brilliant. Put your party clothes on, get in the car and off you go. You might even be able to offer a few people a lift, making you even more popular! However, if you like a drink – a lot of people do and there’s no harm in that – think very carefully about what it is that you are going to be drinking.

If you know you can handle a couple of lagers or a couple of glasses of red, then okay…but are you then okay to refuse offers of the other cocktails, slammers, shots that will inevitably start circulating? Are you going to be in any fit state to refuse the attentions, wanted or unwanted, of part time work colleagues of the opposite sex? Are you one of those people who can’t help but jump on the table after a few drinks and start stripping off?

If you are smilingly knowingly, thinking, ‘Yes, that’s me,’ then stop and think. Maybe you could drive that night so you won’t be able to have a drink. Maybe you could just not go at all…it’s your decision and whichever decision you make will have repercussions.

What goes on at the Christmas doesn’t just stay at the Christmas do and if you can keep that in your head, you’re onto a winner. You could have spent the last few months of your part time post building up a good reputation for yourself. Maybe your boss is even thinking about giving you more responsibility with a pay rise. This can all come undone at one Christmas party…you drink far too much, tell a couple of colleagues exactly what you think of them, tell the boss you fancy her or him, the list goes on. All that hard work you have put in has just been cancelled out. As far as other staff members are concerned, this part time member of staff has just shown their true colours and instead of being able to keep your head down at work and getting on with it, you are now the talk of the workplace.

So, when you get that invite to the ‘work’s Christmas do,’ accept the invitation gracefully and plan, plan, plan. That way, you can go out, have a great night, come home and wake up in the morning with your head held high…and when it’s your next shift at work, you can enjoy all the stories about what other members of staff got up to!

‘Shove your job up your…’ – it can be difficult to take an outburst back

If you are in part time employment and things are just not going too well, you may feel like telling your boss to shove his job up his… Obviously, the best advice in this situation is to take a deep breath, walk away from a possible confrontation and count to ten. You’re going to be able to think more clearly about whether you want to either keep your current part time position or search for new part time job vacancies when you have calmed down.

Okay, so you’ve calmed down and given it time and working part time at this company is just not happening for you anymore. As far as you’re concerned, it’s time to get yourself out of this part time position as fast as possible.

It’s a part time casual job so can you just tell your boss to stick his job and then walk out? Well, of course you could do that – and it might make you feel good for a while – but be aware that there may be repercussions, even if you are only working on a casual basis.

Will I still get benefits?

For instance, if you have walked out of your part time job, can you just walk into the job centre and claim Job Seeker’s Allowance? As far as the Job Centre is concerned, the opportunity was there for you to work part time and earn your own money and you have just upped and left.

The job centre will want to know if you had ‘just cause’ for leaving your part time job and they’re not just going to take your word for it. They may also require a statement from your now-ex-boss and then they will decide if you had ‘just cause’! If they decide you left your part time position unnecessarily, you could lose any right to claim Job Seeker’s Allowance for up to 26 weeks. So, stop and think.  If you walk out of your part time post, have you got another part time position to go to? Make plans. Maybe take a look at UK Part Time Jobs for part time vacancies. Line up another part-time job before you leave this one and then hand in your notice. You’ve put up with your part time job for this long; a little while longer could prevent a lot of problems later. Keep smiling and you may even come out of it all with a good reference!

Will I get my unpaid holiday pay?

Part time workers and seasonal workers are entitled to holiday pay. If you have been in your part time role for a while, you will know how your holiday pay is worked out. If it is stated on your wage slips that your holiday pay from your part time job is included in your wages then it’s possible you will not be entitled to any holiday pay.

If holiday pay for your part time position is separate, then you should be entitled to payment for any untaken holidays. If, for any reason, your old boss is refusing to pay this then it is up to you if you want to take this further.

What paperwork should my employer give me?

When you leave your part time job or casual work, your former employer should give you a P45 from the Inland Revenue. It will show how much you have earned and if you need to keep it safe. If you have a found a new part time post to go to, you need to take your P45 with you and hand it to your employer so you don’t get lumbered with the dreaded ‘emergency tax’.

If you still haven’t found alternative part time employment, please don’t hesitate to browse the UK Part Time Jobs website. You may find a new position without even having to leave the house!

Okay, so all your research of part time jobs paid off. You applied for all the vacancies that interested you, got yourself an interview for a really good part time post and later on at home, the phone rings. You’ve finally got yourself a part time job.

It’s difficult to remember everything because you will no doubt be excited and rightly proud of yourself for your achievement but, to save panic and worry later, listen to what your new employers say to you on the phone and if possible, make notes. If you have unanswered questions about your first day at work, ask them now. For example, for your first day in your new part time job, what should you wear? Where do you need to go when you arrive? What time do you need to be there? Who should you report to?

Research

A little bit of research on the company before you go in on that first morning will not only impress your new employers, but it will also make you feel a bit more confident in asking focused questions about the firm. You could even plan some questions in advance and drop them into the conversation where it seems appropriate.

The night before your first day at work is probably going to be a sleepless one because of nerves, so the more answered questions you have before you start the better.

The First Morning Of Your Part Time Job

Just remember that you are not alone. Everyone has to get through that dreaded first day of a new job. Obviously, it depends on the type of part time post you are starting but make sure you are dressed appropriately for the position. If you noticed what the staff were wearing when you went for your interview, wear something similar.

First impressions count. Make sure you leave the house in good time because the last thing you want for your first day of your new part time post is to be late. Show your new employers how seriously you are taking your job by being punctual. Carry this into the first few weeks as well. Not just your first day.

It’s likely that most of the first day of your part time job is going to be taken up by staff showing you round the place. Don’t worry. They will know you’re nervous. But, just because you have applied for casual work, don’t take the job casually. Show you are keen and capable by having a pen and paper to hand and taking notes. It’s a lot to take in and can be overwhelming but those notes will help you later and impress others. Yes, you will still need to ask questions later and this is expected, but the more independent you can be, the better.

Your notepad can also be useful or writing down people’s names and positions so you can get to know the staff easier. Obviously, this will be made a lot easier if you’ve applied for a part time post where people wear name badges!

So the main points to remember about your first day in a new part time position are to look smart, be punctual and look capable. If you want to go that extra mile on your first day, if there is something that needs to be done before you leave at the end of your shift, do it. Those extra 15 minutes spent finishing a task before you go home will show the company how seriously you are taking your part time job and how committed you are to the company. It’s not only your first day at work that’s important. The coming weeks and months are going to be the ones where you can really prove your worth in your part time role. Arrive early, leave late and give any extra help you can where it is needed.

Now all that’s left to do is to enjoy the future challenges of your part time role!