A match made online is just the job for Bath students and employers

By thisisbathnew | Monday, February 06, 2012, 13:56

Pulling your hair out about the weeding, ironing leaving you feeling flat or your company's deliveries driving around the bend?

usefulstudents

A new website could match you with a talented, flexible and un-tapped workforce, happy to work on a casual or one-off basis.

usefulstudents.com aims to put Bath's youngsters struggling to find occasional work that fits around their studies with families and businesses in the city - and it's free.

You could be matched with a highly-motivated person without the expense of going to a recruitment agency or advertising. No need to sift through CVs and job applications, simply logon to the website and when the job is done feedback is encouraged from both parties.

The site was started by two Edinburgh graduates, Mike and Andrew Howes, and launched across the country after a successful pilot last year.

Only students in full-time university education can register and apply for jobs but it is hoped the free service will help them earn extra cash to pay their fees.

Bath businesses and people with tasks to be done can sign up to the site and post a jobs online.

They will then be matched with students who submit their profiles, including a photograph, a personal statement and the reasons why they should be selected for the job.

Many students struggle in a part-time job with regular hours because of their schedules.

But work on a one-off or casual basis is seen as a way for Bath students to gain work experience, provide short-term help or work ad hoc around their studies.

Commercial director Mike Howes said: "We've found that our service is of particular advantage to smaller businesses and households as they tend not to require full-time support and suit the ad hoc nature that students seek to fit around their studies.

"In addition, companies can save a huge amount of time from not having to sift through CVs and job applications, our site puts all of the information in one place, a unique feature that keeps the appilcant stress free.

usefulstudents.com operations director Andrew Howes said: "An array of recruiters, from households to small businesses in all sectors have found our site invaluable.

"Jobs posted on the site have ranged from web development, administrative, analytical, catering or customer-facing roles to unskilled labouring, gardening and skilled tutoring or coaching."