1. How to boost your
employability with a
part-time job
John McMenamin
Careers Consultant
Career Development Centre
mcmenaj@westminster.ac.uk

2. Objectives
By the end of this session you should:
– recognise the importance of skills to employers
– be able to identify skills that can be gained and
developed from part-time work and other
experiences
– be able to sell your skills to potential employers
regardless of where they were gained/developed
– be able to identify sources of part-time work
– be familiar with the University’s Talent Bank
scheme, how to apply for it and the benefits you
can gain from being part of it

3. What are skills?
– Abilities acquired through education and other
experiences.
– “an ability to do an activity or job well, especially
because you have practised it.”
Cambridge advanced learners dictionary

4. Types of skills
Skills are often bundled into subsets such as:
– key skills
– transferable skills
– academic skills
– employability skills
Though the skills in question are often the same.
– Other terms in use: capabilities, competencies,
abilities.

5. Employers’ Expectations of
Graduates
– Degree
– Experience
– Skills
Carl Gilleard
– Former CEO
Association of
Graduate Recruiters
http://mycareer.wmin.ac.uk/video/mpeg/r4113_bb.mpg (required student login)

6. Degree
– For some roles the subject knowledge gained from your
degree will be utilised to some extent in the role. However,
some employers will not necessarily care what your degree
subject was, the final classification is important (ideally 2:1
or better)
– A degree is more than subject knowledge, it is a set of
values, qualities, skills and experiences that employers
value. Chief among these is the concept of committing to
something for a long period and doing well.
– Degree + Experience + Skills = Employable

7. Experience
– Ideally the experience will be relevant to the role
you are applying for but…
– Any experience which has enhanced your
“employability” will be useful. Experience can be
gained from:
 part-time work
 volunteering
 work experience/placements/internships
 extra-curricular activities –
clubs/societies/interests
– Degree + Experience + Skills = Employable

8. Skills
– A combination of applied knowledge and
experience which make you able to function
effectively in the workplace.
– Skills gained in one job can be transferred to
another. For example, customer service skills.
– Degree + Experience + Transferable Skills =
Employable

9. Skills and qualities employers want
• Commercial awareness
(or business acumen)
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Negotiation and persuasion
(especially useful in customer service)
• Problem solving
• Leadership
• Organisation
• Perseverance and motivation
• Ability to work under pressure
• Confidence
Source: TargetJobs.co.uk

10. Selling skills gained in part-time
roles to an employer
Ideally, your part-time role would be related to your future graduate career but that
isn’t always possible and certainly isn’t absolutely necessary.
– What skills has this woman gained in her part-time job at Subway that will be of
use in her planned career as a
marketing executive?
– Teamwork
– Communication
– Working under pressure
– Customer service
– Multi-tasking
– Attention to detail
– Commercial awareness

11. How about this man and his intended career in sales?

12. Or this man who wants to work in finance?

13. Or this woman who wants to be a TV presenter?

14. Experience need not be relevant but ideally
it would be
– Any job can give you useful skills but some jobs require
relevant experience before you can do them at graduate level
– Examples include: Teaching, lab-based roles, most
retail/sales roles, IT support roles (at 2nd and 3rd line)
– So how can you get experience in these?
– Part-time roles, volunteering, internships, university
schemes

15. Evidencing your skills
in applications and interviews
– Typically in application forms and interviews you
are invited to provide evidence of your skills.
– The questions will take the form of “Describe a
time when…” or “Give an example of…”
– These “competency-based” questions are asking
you to talk about your skills by telling a story about
something that you did in your past.

16. Finding part-time roles
– Easiest method: walk the streets, pop in and ask.
– You may want to take along a CV that is tailored towards
the particular kind of role you are looking for and possibly
even a covering letter that explains your motivation and
what you have to offer.
– The less energetic method: search online
– Career Development Centre job listings
http://careers.westminster.ac.uk
– Google – “Part time jobs in London” – follow the link to
indeed.co.uk – over 7000 roles, Guardian – over 200
roles.
– Other sources: local newspaper and Free-Ads style
publications

17. Got a non-relevant part-time job but
want relevant experience?
– Consider volunteering.
– Visit http://do-it.org.uk – there are thousands of
voluntary opportunities in an around London all of
which will provide you with an excellent
opportunity to apply and further develop your skills
and gain valuable experience whilst helping a
charitable cause.
– If you want help with finding suitable volunteering,
have a chat with Berekhet Berakhy at the Career
Development Centre
b.berakhy@westminster.ac.uk

18. Want to go into teaching but lack classroom
experience?
– Get in touch with the University of Westminster Associates in
Schools (UWAS) team
– http://westminster.ac.uk/uwas
– Provides 15 days of classroom-based experience,
supporting an experienced teacher

19. Want a part-time role that is flexible
around your studies, pays relatively
well and will be a great source of
skills and experience?
– Apply to join the Talent Bank

20. What is the Talent Bank?
- Gives students the opportunity to apply for paid temporary
and part-time vacancies across all campuses and various
departments.
- Applications open at certain points throughout the year
and students are pre screened and tested so we are able
to accurately match Talent Bank students to suitable roles.

21. Talent Bank Roles
Database Administrator, Residential Coordinator, Alumni
Administrator, Language Assistant, Procurement
administrator, Invigilators, Business Development Admin
Assistant, Temp Events Admin Assistant, HEIF Research
Assistant, Focus group Assistant, DLHE Survey Telephone
Researchers, Envelope Stuffer, Archiving Assistant, Student
Ambassadors, Super Fans, Receptionist, Welcome Pack
Assembler, Library Shelver, IT Assistant, Notetaker, Exam
Transcriber, HR Administrator

22. Talent Bank Student Specification
Demonstrated via
Application form
Supporting
Statement
CV Assessment
Essential
Self-motivated with the ability to work
independently
x x
Enthusiasm, initiative with a ‘can-do’ attitude x x
Able to work in a team x x
Excellent written & verbal communication skills x x x x
Excellent attention to detail x x x x
Reliability and good timekeeping x x
Desirable
Previous work experience x
Excellent customer service skills x x x
Intermediate/Excellent Word skills x x
Intermediate/Excellent Excel skills x x
Intermediate/Excellent Outlook skills x x
Intermediate/Excellent Typing speed x x
Intermediate/Excellent Online research skills x x

23. Talent Bank Student Case Study

24. Talent Bank Student Case Study
– November 2012 Successfully applied to the Talent Bank
– December 2012 Applied & was recruited as a Database Administrator
– March 2012 Applied & was recruited as a Procurement Assistant
– July 2013 Graduated from University of Westminster
– June 2014 Working in the accounts department of a PR firm, studying
for his ACCA.

25. What we see…
 Title of CV
 Email address
 CV not relevant
 Supporting Statement not relevant
 ‘In my CV’
 3+ page CV
 All lists, no detail
 Communication prior & after your application

26. Summary
– Skills are a key part of being employable
– Being able to identify the skills you have gained from a given
experience can be a skill in itself
– All work experience will help you develop transferable skills that
employers value regardless of its relevance to the role on offer
– There are plenty of part-time jobs out there if you look for them
– The university operates a number of schemes which can help you gain
valuable experience while you study

27. Career Development Centre Services
Information and advice on
 CVs, Covering letters and application forms
Resources
 Guides, general and sector specific publications,
DVDs and much more
Face-to-face advice and guidance
 20 minute quick query session
 45 minute in-depth individual guidance or mock
interview session

28. Contact us
Central London
1st Floor, Cavendish House
101 New Cavendish Street
London
W1W 6XH
Harrow
Room EG.15
Maria Hewlett Building
Nearest Tube:
Northwick Park
T 020 7911 5184
E careers@westminster.ac.uk
westminster.ac.uk/careers