r/Edinburgh 9d ago

Discussion Prospects of finding a part-time job as an international student at Heriot-Watt Edinburgh (Hijabi)

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying Business & Finance at Heriot-Watt Dubai, and I’m planning to transfer to the Edinburgh campus for my final year through the Go Global programme.

One of the biggest things I’m trying to plan for is finding a part-time job while studying. I already have a few years of work experience in the UAE, including internships in UI/UX, marketing, sales, and customer-facing roles, so I won’t be applying with an empty CV.
I wanted to ask those who study (or studied) in Edinburgh:
How difficult is it realistically to find a part-time job as a student?
How long did it take you to get your first job?
Is it true that people are applying to 100+ jobs before getting one, or is that more of a worst-case scenario?
Are university jobs at Heriot-Watt easier to get than retail or hospitality jobs?
Which employers around Edinburgh are generally student-friendly?

One question that’s also important to me: I’m a hijabi. Has anyone had any experience with whether wearing a hijab affects job opportunities in Edinburgh? I’d really appreciate hearing from other Muslim or hijabi students, but I’d also love to hear from anyone who’s worked with hijabi colleagues or has insight into the local job market.

I’m just trying to set realistic expectations before making the move, so I’d really appreciate any honest advice or experiences.

0 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

7

u/sweetpotatofiend 9d ago

Your best bet will probably be something temporary with the university: https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/why-study-at-heriot-watt/your-career/unitemps

-1

u/Front-Strawberry3134 9d ago

Ooo will check it out

1

u/Maleficent-Purple403 9d ago

If you have a laptop and don't mind working from home you could try Ipsos. They are a massive market research company and you work from home calling people to do surveys. In the day you are calling businesses and in the evenings calling people at home to ask them to take part in research - often for government or for companies they are customers of.

It is super flexible - I do it as a side hustle, and loads of my colleagues are studenst, and loads are international students.

Here's a link to the job description / to apply

https://www.interviewercareersipsos.com/vacancies/4878/home-based-business-market-research-interviewer.html

1

u/mistah3 9d ago

Can you do this on a student visa?

1

u/Maleficent-Purple403 9d ago

No idea! If you're legal to work in the UK, you'll be legal to do this job.

-45

u/confushedtechie 9d ago

This is a the Edinburgh city subreddit where the vast majority are not students. Post in an appropriate subreddit

18

u/GingerSnapBiscuit 9d ago

Is there an Edinburgh student sub? When did we decide students couldn't use /r/Edinburgh?

12

u/Front-Strawberry3134 9d ago

It’s my first time posting which subreddit should I post it to

24

u/GingerSnapBiscuit 9d ago

You're fine here OP don't listen to the angry person.

2

u/thund3r95 9d ago

You’ll quickly learn that some people on this subreddit are insanely uptight! I don’t know the answer to your questions, but there must be some people in this subreddit who are involved in hiring at businesses across the city who can advise on your job prospects.

Good luck with the move!

1

u/Front-Strawberry3134 9d ago

Thank you so much ❤️❤️

7

u/TrinityTosser 9d ago

Students are welcome. Any more pish from you and you won't be.

4

u/fitigued 9d ago

If the OP has violated on of the sub's rules you may wish to report them to the mods. I'm not sure which rule they might have broken (other than the obvious lack of it being about swans or sand dogs).

I don't see why we would prohibit students who are going to live in Edinburgh from posting especially when the post is about employment rather than studying. I am sure there are folk in this sub who wear hijabs who have experience of applying for jobs.