Struggling to find a part-time job in Kingston and have no means to get by in the meantime?

Help is always available in the form of the University’s JobShop and Student Funding Service.

JobShop is the online database run by the University’s Careers Service, which advertises part-time and temporary work and is updated on a daily basis. Everything from Web Designers to bar staff vacancies are available to browse and the posting of Christmas jobs has already started.

Khalid Ali, a first year Statistics and Strategic Innovation student said of the service: “Jobshop were very helpful in helping me to re-work my CV and they always email me with the latest job exhibitions and the other activities that are going on in the Uni. I’ve been an active user of their services and am very keen on finding summer internships related to my degree.”

Once registered with JobShop, students can rest assured that they will be contacted about particular jobs without the usual tedious routine of trawling to shops and bars, CV in hand.

Mauro Concas, a first year in Music Technology, was also pleased with the results: “I found JobShop helpful because I’ve been contacted for a couple of job interviews. I had already been hired by Marks and Spencer (I found the ad on the JopShop website and made applications) but JobShop is working. I had a lot of feedback from them and they always kept me posted with the latest events and news.”

While the job search is taking place, cash can still be hard to come and this is where the Student Funding Service comes in.

This is available to every student and advises on a wide range of money-related issues, from coping on a student budget (including helping to draw up a weekly spending plan) to dealing with debts.

Keith Houghton, acting head of the Student Funding Service, said: “we offer tips and strategies for negotiating with creditors, checking entitlement to student support (loans, grant and bursaries) and identifying other sources of funding. We also deal with applications for the Government Access to Learning Fund. We welcome any student who has money worries.”

In the 2007-8 academic year, 6980 individual students used the service and, in the satisfaction survey conducted, over 98 per cent were happy with the results.

Students can book a 30 minute appointment to see a money advisor by calling into the office at Cooper House or by phoning on 020 8417 3553.

Alternatively, a drop-in service is run from 12-2 on the following days:

Monday at Knight’s Park (outside the senior common room)

Tuesday at Roehampton Vale (in the main reception area)

Wednesday at Penrhyn Road (in the Learning Resource Centre)

Thursday at Kingston Hill (in the Nightingale Centre)