Shop, Bar and Reception Staff Spring 2024
点击此处浏览中文版职位招募通知
WORKING HERE
Working for us is not like working for any other organisation! Our staff say that the best thing about working here is their fantastic colleagues and the Union’s flexible working. Our commercial services are shaped by students, with students elected as Full-time Officers to sit on the Company Board, student staff representatives in each outlet and managers with an open door policy.
When applying, you can choose to apply for work just in our shops, reception, our bars or select no preference.
You can read the full Job Description for jobs in our shops and bars here
You can read the full Job Description for jobs in our reception team here
INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY
We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce because we know how important it is to have staff, decision makers and collaborators with varied lived experiences and backgrounds that reflect the range of needs in our diverse student community.
We particularly encourage applications from mature students, postgraduate students and international students, people with an ethnic minority background, people who have a Chinese background, people with a disability, people with dependents, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. Staff at The Students' Union will also have the opportunity to join our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network.
We also anonymise applications before shortlisting and give staff conducting interviews Unconscious Bias Training. You don’t need shop, bar or reception experience to work here, though this will be factored into the selection process.
Please be aware that all our bar staff are required to serve alcohol and so if your faith prohibits you from selling alcohol you may prefer to select shop or reception work only as your preferences when completing the application form as we will not be able to sustain work for bar staff that do not sell alcohol.
HOW TO APPLY
You will be able to apply on this website from Monday, 29th of April. Applications will close Sunday, 19th of May at 11pm. (British Summer Time - BST)
Each year we look for motivated and friendly Sussex and BSMS students to work as Customer Service Assistants in our bars, shops or reception: Falmer Bar, Northfield Bar, Room 76 Cafe, Union Shop, Co-operative Store, and our Reception.
We shortlist applicants on the basis of one question: "What qualities, skills and/or experience do you have that would make you good at this job?" (characters limited to 1000, including spaces). We will also ask for some basic information about you. If you’re interested in being part of our reception team our application form will also ask you to draft a written reply to a common query that we get from students.
Please note that the Selection Events will take place in person.
On the day, we are offering a selection session for international students only, so that if you’re an international student and would feel more comfortable doing so you can choose to interview with international students only. We recognise that arriving in the UK is a big life event and it can be helpful to be with those that may be in a similar position.
We will be recruiting a number of individuals across our bars, retail and reception teams, with inductions and Right to Works checks taking place on the following dates:
- Bars - Friday, 19th July 2024
- Retail - Wednesday, 17th July 2024 (Co-op) and Tuesday 16th July (Union Shop)
- Reception - Wednesday, 11th September 2024
Please note that our contracts are term time only (including key weeks, such as Freshers), although we are likely to have additional limited hours available for staff outside of term time.
Please have your calendar handy at the time of application so you can let us know your availability for our induction and selection events (if you can attend all of them then you will not be limited by the spaces in the same way as if you were only available for one). Please note that attending the in person induction is a condition of employment, therefore should you not attend the induction, the job offer will be withdrawn.
If you have any problems applying, please contact hradmin@sussexstudent.com
RATE OF PAY
We currently pay our assistants and receptionists £13.45 per hour (made up of £12 basic wage + £1.45 holiday pay). Pay is calculated this way because our students often have other work in vacation time. They tell us that they prefer an enhanced hourly amount rather than separate holiday pay.
HOURS OF WORK
Working hours are over a 7 day period and will include early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. We form rotas around fixed academic commitments which at Sussex often vary from week to week! Staff let us know their academic commitments for a 2-4 week period, and we make up a rota based on this information. As we build shifts around fixed academic commitments, our student staff need to offer as much availability around studies as possible to support this working relationship
CONTRACTS
We offer flexible hour contracts:
- Customer Service Assistants commit to working 9-12 hours per week during term time (in which we include; teaching periods, Arrival Weekend, Welcome Week/Freshers’ period), and 5-9 hours per week during inter-semester weeks and revision weeks/private study periods, and during all assessment periods.
- Receptionists commit to working 9-12 hours per week during term time (in which we include; teaching periods, Arrival Weekend, Welcome Week/Freshers’ period), revision week and Open Days/Application Visit Day.
Please note that the above fixed number of hours are not a limit and there may be scope for taking on extra hours for some weeks. There will also be the option to work fewer hours in any given week if agreed in advance with the line manager. We do not guarantee any hours during scheduled University vacation periods.
OUR STAFF
Our staff are the face of the Union, and as such they need to work effectively and considerately within their team to create a friendly and professional experience for students using our services. You would be great at one of these roles if you have the following abilities and approach to your role:
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
All times are based on British Summer Time (BST)
- 29th April: Applications open
- 11pm, Sunday 19th May: Applications close
- Tuesday, 21st May: Invitations to shortlisted students sent out
- 3pm Monday, 27th May: Deadline for booking selection event slot. IF YOU HAVEN’T CHOSEN A SLOT BY THIS TIME, YOUR INVITATION WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
Thursday, 20th June - 4 Events
Timings | Sign in | Union Presentation | CSA Task | Access Break | Presentation prep | Presentation | End |
15 mins | 10 mins | 30 mins | 5 min | 25 mins | 10 mins | ||
Anyone | 9.15 | 9.30 | 9.40 | 10.10 | 10.15 | 10.35 | 10.45 |
International Students only | 11 | 11.10 | 11.20 | 11.50 | 11.55 | 12.20 | 12.30 |
Anyone | 1 | 1.10 | 1.20 | 1.50 | 1.55 | 2.20 | 2.30 |
Anyone | 2.45 | 2.55 | 3.05 | 3.35 | 3.40 | 4.05 | 4.15 |
- Monday, 24th of June: Applicants informed if they have been successful for shops and bars
- Thursday, 27th of June: Applicants informed if they have been successful for Reception or have been unsuccessful for all outlets
- In person Right to Work checks and Inductions:
- Bars - Friday, 19th July 2024.
- Retail - Wednesday, 17th July 2024 (Co-op) and Tuesday 16th July 2024 (Union Shop)
- Reception - Wednesday, 11th September 2024
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES
All our Duty Managers have been promoted from a Customer Assistant role, and these starting positions therefore offer great developmental opportunities for someone who can demonstrate further skills. We also recruit for other positions each year, with many outlet staff going on to successfully apply for one of our graduate positions or permanent positions within the wider Students’ Union.
Do sign up for our vacancy notification service to hear about vacancies as and when they arise.
HEAR FROM OUR STAFF
ZhengHong Yu (Jackson), Co-Op Assistant
As a person who didn’t use English as a mother language, I’m very proud to use my few time to work here as a CSA. In this big family that full of people with different national backgrounds, the treasure I received from here is not only the capability of English speaking, but it also the importance of the spirit of teamwork. In here we help each other like a family for a same common goal: serving the customers. However, the party never last, I will go back to my own country after I finished my study here. But, the pleasure of time is permanently inked into my heart, which is a memory that unforgettable. This incredible journey of working here is a treasure for me in Sussex that will be last.
作为一名以汉语为第一语种的中国留学生，我为我短暂的留学时光能在这里度过而感到骄傲。在这个多民族多文化的大家庭里，我收获的不单是语言能力的提升，还在这里领悟和感受了团队协作的重要性。在这里我们互帮互助，亲如一家，大家一起为一个目标精诚协作，众志成城。但是天下没有不散的筵席，送君千里终须一别，虽然我在这里工作只有短暂的一年光景，但是长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海。这一年的经历将给我人生道路上增添一道靓丽彩虹，为我的人生谱写上属于苏塞克斯的壮丽篇章。
Zichun Tang, PostGraduate in Strategy & Marketing, Union Shop Assistant
I applied this job in August, before the school starts. Working on campus and getting to know people is the best way to earn some money and make friends. The first step is online application by filling in some personal information and answer questions like the reason to apply the job. Just express your true feeling and objectives. It’s not a matter of how beautiful your writing is, but how enthusiastic and capable of you for the job. Followed by interviews, which are really fun. I still remember during the fun quick-response- question session, I was the last one to answer, but that did not influence my result.
My colleagues and bosses are super nice. The training will tell you all you need to know of the shop. It’s not just a part-time job, but a place to meet new friends. The variable nationality makes me more excited. After working here for a year, I feel like we are family. I would encourage people to join our family and enjoy the job.
在还没有开学的时候,8 月份就在学校网站上搜到了这份工作。能在校 内工作还有一份不错的薪水是赚零花钱最好的方式了。首先要在线填表,一些个 人信息和申请的原因,只要真实的表达自己的诉求就好了。我很希望在兼职中遇 到不同而有趣的小伙伴,在课业之余还能认识新的朋友。面试也是很有趣的。在 抢答环节我总是最后一个才回答,但是并没有影响结果,因为对这份工作的真诚 和热情才是重要的。
商店的同事老板都很亲切,对我也格外宽和。虽然是份兼职,但定期的培训会提 高你的技能。从收银到理货,从对顾客的处理方式到店面的规整。还有员工的周 末社交活动,更是让我真正了解了我的同事们。不同国籍不同肤色的伙伴互相交 流着格外欢乐。
Emma, She/Her. Venues Duty Manager:
“Working as a CSA and then Duty Manager as the SU has been by far my favourite job I've had. The bars provide a fun and welcoming workplace atmosphere with the added benefit of flexibility around my studies. Throughout my time here I have developed so many valuable skills such as providing great customer service, learning how to make a variety of drinks, working as a team and improving my confidence! I feel such a strong sense of community and have built so many meaningful friendships during my time here!”
Ella, She/Her. Venues Customer Service Assistant.
“Working on bars was one of the best decisions i made as a student. Each member of staff is supportive, kind and respectful and i’m so grateful to have made such good friends from working here! Working at the three venues means that every shift is exciting and you get lots of opportunities to try new things.”
Tyler, He/Him. Venues Duty Manager.
“Working in the bars at the students’ unions has definitely been one of my university highlights. Apart from getting paid this job has provided me with experiences I never thought I’d have at university. From Freshers week to football matches, from Skint Fridays to Monday’s mornings working in the bars are never mundane. I’ve learnt not only skills but so much about myself and what I can achieve, I’ve met incredible people along the way I am fortunate to call my friends and I’ve had so much fun doing all of it!! If you want to work somewhere where you always feel appreciated and have you managers believe in you every step of the way this is definitely the place for you.”
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you have difficulty filling in the phone number section of our application form because you currently have an international phone number, please just enter eleven zeros
We really welcome applications from international students for all of our student vacancies.
Due to legal regulations we have to ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this would be done by checking your visa, and/or by us taking a copy of an original passport (and/or other appropriate identification), on or before your first day of work. You may also be limited in the number of hours you would be allowed to work.
Find out more information about applying to work in the UK
In any case, we would encourage all international students to apply for a job in one of our friendly outlets to give yourself the chance of being selected, and we would look to see the appropriate identification on or before your first day of work.
GETTING PAID
To get paid you’d need to provide us with proof of your national insurance number as soon as possible after accepting a job offer. To make this process quicker we ask that those without a national insurance number apply for one now/as early as possible as these can take some time to arrive. International students will be able to apply as soon as they arrive in the UK. You can find out more about applying for a national insurance number, or recovering a lost national insurance number here.
If you need support in applying for a National Insurance Number you may find that Sussex University's International Support Team can help: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/international-students/international-student-support
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
After a long day of studying on a really intensive course, it feels nice to be doing something where you’re on your feet, rather than returning to the work which I had done before in a law firm. Having said that, as a Duty Manager I am additionally trusted with tasks such as opening up the shop and doing banking, as well as managing staff! Working at the shop has also really helped me build up commercial awareness which was something we are asked to do on my academic course. It’s a really friendly place to work, not bossing people about but working as a team, and I have never done anything like that before; it will really add to my CV. - Ashley, Postgraduate, Union Shop Assistant, then Duty Manager, then HR Administrator
The thing I’ve always enjoyed about working for the Union is that everyone is really friendly and working together to support lots of students from a variety of backgrounds at different points in their lives. As a staff member I had the opportunity to recruit future colleagues and I don’t think many places would let you do that! Having the opportunity to specialise within this environment was great - I became responsible for setting up equipment for live music events, and by doing so I developed technical skills which were relevant and really useful to my music degree - Ed, BA Music Graduate, Bar Assistant, then Digital Engagement Coordinator (Graduate Scheme)
STAFF BENEFITS
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about working for the Students' Union go to: