Whether you’re looking to make some extra cash during the holiday season or to pay off that student loan, finding a part-time job will definitely help you achieve your financial goals!
Now, you may be thinking: Working a part-time job and studying at the same time seems exhausting—and we totally get it. However, once you weigh out the benefits, you’ll realise that there are plenty more advantages than there are disadvantages to having a part-time job as a student.
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What Are the Benefits of Having a Part-Time Job as a Student?
The biggest benefit of having a part-time job as a student is obviously the extra money you’ll be pocketing each month—but there’s more to it than that! Having a part-time job while you study also means that you’ll be able to add some work experience to your CV—and that’s always a plus.
Additionally, having a part-time job gives you essential life skills that will help you study as well as further your future career, such as:
- Time management: Between attending your lectures and getting to work on time each day, you’ll become a pro at managing your time more carefully in order to maintain your busy schedule.
- Financial skills: Having a stable income will teach you how to budget your spending wisely, as you’ll be more cautious of how you spend your hard-earned salary.
- Communication and networking: A part-time job will give you the opportunity to network with other people and (depending on who you connect with) may even open the door to your future career.
- Interpersonal skills: Being placed in a working environment will teach you how to speak and behave in a professional manner—as well as how to get along with all types of personalities.
However, there are still plenty of other skills that you’ll learn while working your part-time job as a student! With that said, this is entirely dependent on the type of part-time job you are able to get.
What Are the Best Types of Part-Time Jobs for Students?
The best types of part-time jobs for students are flexible, convenient and pay well. It’s important to find a part-time job that allows you to balance your studies as well as your work.
You don’t want to head into a part-time job that is demanding with time or high pressure and end up falling behind in your college or university work! That’s why, in this article, we look at the 5 types of part-time jobs you can do as a student:
- On-campus jobs
- Retail jobs
- Internship jobs
- Brand ambassador jobs
- Online tutoring
Now that you know what types of part-time jobs are out there, let’s dive into the part-time jobs available to South African students.
The Top 5 Part-Time Jobs For Students in South Africa
There are plenty of part-time jobs available for students in South Africa—from retail work to jobs available right on campus. But how do you know which part-time job is right for you?
We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to. Grab your CV and start job hunting with our list of the top 5 part-time jobs for students in South Africa.
Part-Time Jobs: On-Campus
If you’re worried about travel costs and don’t feel like sitting in traffic every week, then getting a part-time job on campus may be the option for you!
Now, you may be wondering: Where can I find the job listings for on-campus positions? Well, there are quite a few higher education institutions that have part-time job listings for students directly on their websites.
To help you get started, check out the part-time jobs below that have been listed by South African universities.
University of Cape Town (UCT)
The University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Stay&Connect team lists summer jobs for UCT students and currently has the following vacancies available:
- Office receptionists
- Office assistants
- Night managers
- Dining hall monitors
- Stock controller assistants
It’s important to note that the above jobs at the University of Cape Town are only available throughout the months of November to January. This is because the whole purpose of these part-time jobs is to assist the visitors who are currently staying on campus during the holiday season.
Some of the general requirements for these part-time jobs at UCT are:
- A student registered at UCT
- Computer skills
- Valid driver’s licence
- Experience with the UCT Student Housing vacation accommodation programme
- Flexibility (must be able to work extended hours)
University of Pretoria (TUKS)
Students who are looking for part-time jobs at the University of Pretoria (TUKS) will be happy to know that TUKS has a Career Services programme designed specifically to help students earn an income on campus while they study.
The Career Services programme at TUKS aims to assist students who would like to work on a part-time basis or during the school holidays.
To apply for the part-time jobs available at the University of Pretoria (TUKS), all you have to do is log in via the TUKS student portal. Once you’re there, take a look at the on-campus positions available via TUKSCareers and see which part-time jobs are currently available.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
Students who attend Nelson Mandela University (NMU) can register for part-time employment directly through NMU online via the university’s application form.
The great thing about Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is that it has quite a variety of part-time jobs for undergraduate students who are looking to earn money while they complete their studies, such as:
- Admin work
- After-hour tutoring (Maths, Science, Accounts)
- Babysitting
- Barman
- Data Capturing
- Driver
- Flyer handouts
- Housesitting
- Promotion work
- Research work
- Stocktaking
- Waitron
If you’re not a registered student at any of the above universities, don’t be discouraged! These aren’t the only universities offering part-time jobs for students. Be sure to check out the below list of universities to see what other part-time jobs are available:
Part-Time Jobs: Retail
If you enjoy working with others and have excellent communication skills, then a part-time job in retail could be ideal for you. The best part about getting a part-time job in retail is that you (generally) only require a matric certificate to qualify!
There are 2 ways to find a part-time job at a retail outlet: The first is by going to your local mall and asking your favourite stores if they have any vacancies available. The second way involves searching for a part-time retail job online and applying through a job portal.
Struggling to find a part-time retail job online? Don’t worry, there are specific keywords that you can use to make your job search easier and to get the results you desire.
To get you started, we’ve rounded up a few keywords that are in line with the part-time positions you may find available at retail stores:
Part-Time Jobs: Internship
Getting a part-time internship job is a great way to get vital career experience that will give you an edge over other candidates when you inevitably start interviewing for full-time employment.
Not only that but getting an internship as a student also prepares you for the career you’d eventually like to go into.
The best way to find a part-time internship position is by going online and searching for jobs available in your area. Thankfully, there are plenty of job portals—such as Indeed, Jobmail, PNET, Careers24 and CareerJunction— that list part-time internships for students. All you have to do is search for a part-time internship job that’s in line with your chosen career path and that pays well.
For example, if you’re looking to go into social media marketing, you may search “social media marketing internship” and look at the listings available. If the listing says “paid internship”, you are good to go.
Speaking of social media, LinkedIn also has plenty of part-time job listings available for students!
Finding part-time job listings on LinkedIn is simple, and works similarly to how a job portal does. All you have to do is type your desired position in the search field, insert your location and see what opportunities are available.
In order to apply for part-time internship jobs on LinkedIn, however, you have to have a LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile already, don’t worry! We have a complete guide to creating a student LinkedIn profile that clearly outlines how to get your profile work-ready.
Once you’ve got a LinkedIn profile, you can start applying for part-time internships and earn cash while putting the skills you’ve learned at college or university to the test.
Part-Time Jobs: Online Tutoring
Online tutoring is ideal if you have sound knowledge of the subject you’d like to teach and enjoy helping others achieve their academic goals.
Many students enjoy online tutoring due to the multitude of benefits this part-time job has to offer, such as:
- Flexibility: Becoming an online tutor gives you the freedom to create your own work schedule, meaning you can choose when, where and how many hours you’d like to work.
- Remote work: Avoid the constraints of an office and cut down on travel costs by conducting your lessons online from anywhere you’d like—whether it’s at your desk, in the living room or at a local coffee shop.
- Exposure to different cultures: Online tutoring lets you connect with learners from all parts of the country as well as various parts of the world!
These are just some of the benefits of being an online tutor. If this sounds like a part-time job for you, then be sure to check out the below websites that allow you to become an online tutor:
Teach Me 2
Teach Me 2 is a proudly South African tutoring service that allows students to become face-to-face as well as online tutors. The application process at Teach Me 2 is absolutely free—all you need to worry about is meeting the requirements, nailing the interview and getting the job!
Turtlejar
Turtlejar is a tutoring service that connects tutors with students in South Africa. You can choose to tutor in-person or online and can teach over 100 subjects, including Maths, Science and English. To start tutoring with Turtlejar, all you need to do is sign up, complete your profile and get listed on the platform.
Preply
Preply is an international e-learning platform developed in the United States. The Preply platform has over 100 subjects you can teach, and no specific certification or teaching experience is required.
Part-Time Jobs: Brand Ambassador
If you’re a student with vast knowledge and interest in a certain product and how it works, then you may enjoy having a part-time job as a brand ambassador! This is an exciting part-time job that allows you to promote and discuss your favourite products—while getting paid to do so!
There are 2 types of brand ambassadors: online and in-person brand ambassadors. Online brand ambassadors generally create awareness about a product on social media or online.
Your tasks as an online brand ambassador may include posting about a product on your social media platforms, writing reviews on a customer review website or writing positively about a product in your blog.
In-person brand ambassadors do face-to-face promotions and are normally asked to attend marketing conferences or events where they will hand out flyers, distribute samples of the product and wear branded clothing.
Now, you may be wondering: How do I become a brand ambassador? There are a few ways to get a job as a brand ambassador, and you can try any of the below options:
- Find a part-time job post online: Search for a part-time brand ambassador position via an online job portal.
- Build an online presence: Brands are more likely to want to connect and partner with you if you’ve got a large social media following and if you’ve got a shared interest in their products and brand values.
- Contact brands directly: Reach out to brands that you’d like to represent as a brand ambassador and ask them if they have any part-time opportunities available.
Remember, finding a job takes time, so don’t lose hope if you don’t hear back from an employer straight away. With that said, if you’re urgently looking to pay your tuition fees for next year, there are other options available.
Let Fundi Help You Fund Your Studies
Although having a part-time job will make it easier to pay off your student loan, it’s not your only option. Fundi provides you with the funding you need to pay all your educational costs, including tuition fees, accommodation, technical devices and more!
Find out if you qualify for a Fundi study loan by using the Fundi Loan Calculator and start your educational journey today.
