10 of the best jobs for working students
If you’re a student looking for work to fund your hobbies and studies, you might be wondering what the best jobs are.
It all really depends on what interests you, your skills, and your career goals as to what “the best” job is. We know it isn’t always easy to find something you like, especially when you’ve got exams and coursework to juggle!
What is the best job to get as a student?
There are plenty of reasons to think about working as a student, from the extra cash and the new work besties, to the personal growth and figuring out where you shine. But where do you even start? How do you find the shoe that fits?
Don’t worry!
Parkdean has got you covered with our guide to 10 of the best jobs for students.
1. Spicing things up in the kitchen
When you work in a kitchen, it really isn’t just about mopping the floor or wiping down surfaces oh no! It’s a course in multitasking, teamwork and time management.
From learning the ropes of food preparation to mastering organisation, every shift is a lesson in practical skills when you’re one of our Kitchen Assistants.
2. Sparkle and shine on the cleaning team
Working as a Parkdean cleaner can offer you more than just a paycheck. There’s never a dull moment in our cleaning team.
Whether you’re brushing up on COSHH guidelines or working with a team that keeps the banter flowing, there’s plenty going on to jazz up your CV and boost those transferable skills.
3. Mix drinks, make memories
If you think of yourself as the life of the party and fancy working with a team that celebrates your every win, then why not shake things up with a bar job at Parkdean?
Get ready for a serving of laughter alongside mastering the art of crafting the perfect cocktail, all while working for a place that cares about your professional development!
4. Dive into Lifeguard life
Whether it’s a full or part-time role, our Lifeguards are all about creating amazing (and safe!) memories for our guests.
Fancy making a splash in our leisure teams as a Lifeguard? If the answer is yes, then we’ve got your back! We’re super proud to offer those passionate about starting their Lifeguard career with us the opportunity to gain an NPLQ completely free of charge!
5. Holiday Park handy helper
Are you a fan of fixing things? Do you see yourself as a bit of a DIY whizz? Well, we’ve got the perfect role for you!
When you join our maintenance teams, you’ll get to work on those problem-solving skills while taking pride in keeping the park top-notch for our guests (did we mention we also offer Maintenance Academy apprenticeships too?).
6. Head Office hustler
The buzz of the office is a pretty neat environment when it comes to polishing transferable skills and making lasting connections.
Whether you’re interested in finance, marketing, customer service or IT, there are a lot of roles going that can add flair to your CV. Some of our Parkdeaners even move from Park to head office so keep that in mind if you’re joining us again for round two this summer!
7. Serving with style
Choosing to be a waiter at Parkdean serves you up a bunch of skills from the get-go. Picture yourself in a lively atmosphere, surrounded by your work besties in a close-knit team - that’s just daily life for our waiters!
With fantastic opportunities for growth, and the chance to improve your communication, customer service, and memory skills, this is definitely the place to be.
8. Admin champion
Methodical and well-organised? Then you might just make a fantastic Administrator!
At Parkdean you can become the organisational backbone of a bustling and exciting (and absolutely beautiful!) holiday park.
With clear career progression pathways and the chance to gain professional qualifications on the ride, what’s stopping you?
9. Activities action hero
No two days are the same when you’re one of our leisure luminaries at Parkdean.
As an Activities Assistant, you can really brush up on your planning and project management skillset while organising sports and activities sessions with guest satisfaction in mind.
10. Retail rockstar
Interested in a career in sales? Why not use one of our retail roles as a stepping stone?
Working in retail gives you the chance to work on your sales skills while developing your adaptability, empathy and persuasion. It’s not just about transactions; it’s about building bonds with customers and opening the door to your future career!
The best student jobs await you at Parkdean!
So you’re at the end of our handy guide on the best jobs for students, but what comes next?
Now you’re a bit more clued up on the range of opportunities out there, it’s time to figure out where you can shine best! We recommend thinking about the things you enjoy most and then taking some skills tests.
Or, if you’ve already got an idea of your strengths and a bit of a career plan lined up, consider which of the jobs we mentioned best fit with where you want to go.
Check out our vacancies today - if you’ve got pockets full of passion, positivity and Parkdean team spirit, we’ll teach you everything you’ll need to succeed in your new role!
And why not check out our summer jobs too for something to fit around your student life?
Sign up to our blog alerts!
Already work at Parkdean Resorts?
If you're already a member of our team and are looking to apply for an internal job opportunity, click the apply button below.
Roles you might be interested in
Salary
Hourly Rate: £12.21
Location
Highfield Grange, London Road, Clacton-on-Sea
Contract Type
Seasonal
Department
Maintenance
Location
Highfield Grange
Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU REQUIRE A FULL UK MANUEL DRIVING LICANCE FOR THIS ROLE - YOU ALSO MUST BE ABLE TO WORK WEEKENDS Join us as Our new Maintenance Operative, where you’ll help keep our holiday park
Reference
18023
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £35321.00
Location
Trecco Bay, Porthcawl
Contract Type
Established
Department
Food and Beverage
Location
Trecco Bay
Description
Are you a creative, hands-on chef who loves motivating a team and delivering amazing food? We’re looking for a Sous Chef to join our vibrant kitchen team at Parkdean Resorts. In this role, you’ll w
Reference
18024
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £36500.00
Location
Highfield Grange, London Road, Clacton-on-Sea
Contract Type
Established
Department
Sports and Leisure
Location
Highfield Grange
Description
This is one of the most exciting roles to join at Highfield right now. Our Activities & Leisure department is right at the centre of a multi-million-pound transformation, and we’re recruiting for an
Reference
17954
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £40000.00
Location
Vauxhall, Acle New Road, Great Yarmouth
Contract Type
Established
Department
Sports and Leisure
Location
Vauxhall
Description
We’re searching for a dynamic Activity & Leisure Manager to lead Vauxhall Holiday Park into a brand-new era. With a huge £4.8 million investment transforming the park, we’re expanding our leisure off
Reference
17935
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £26478.00
Location
Lower Hyde, Landguard Road, Shanklin
Contract Type
Established
Department
Maintenance
Location
Lower Hyde
Description
Join us as our new Maintenance Assistant, where you’ll help keep our holiday park looking its best and running safely. From general repairs to groundskeeping and landscaping, your hands-on work ensur
Reference
18053
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Hourly Rate: £13.04
Location
Camber Sands, New Lydd Road, Rye
Contract Type
Seasonal
Department
Food and Beverage
Location
Camber Sands
Description
Thunderbird Fried Chicken is one man’s mission to make ‘Fried Chicken Great Again’ Since starting in street food in 2017, Thunderbird Fried Chicken has taken the capital by storm and developed a d
Reference
18036
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £29469.00
Location
White Cross Bay, Ambleside Road, Windermere
Contract Type
Established
Department
Accommodation
Location
White Cross Bay
Description
Join our housekeeping team as an assistant manager for a career with more shine! There’s something special about creating unforgettable moments for people on holiday. As an Assistant Accommodation M
Reference
18029
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Salary: £26624.00
Location
White Cross Bay, Ambleside Road, Windermere
Contract Type
Established
Department
Sports and Leisure
Location
White Cross Bay
Description
Join our fantastic Activities and Leisure team as Assistant Manager for a career with a little more fun! If you’ve got charisma, positive energy, and love to lead a talented team, this exciting oppo
Reference
18030
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Hourly Rate: £13.04
Location
Camber Sands, New Lydd Road, Rye
Contract Type
Seasonal
Department
Food and Beverage
Location
Camber Sands
Description
Join our food and beverage team as a supervisor for a career with more fun! Forget the desk bound 9 to 5 and enjoy the buzzing holiday park industry that has fantastic opportunities for growth, a wo
Reference
18037
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsSalary
Hourly Rate: £13.04
Location
Camber Sands, New Lydd Road, Rye
Contract Type
Seasonal
Department
Food and Beverage
Location
Camber Sands
Description
Join our food and beverage team as a supervisor for a career with more fun! Forget the desk bound 9 to 5 and enjoy the buzzing holiday park industry that has fantastic opportunities for growth, a wo
Reference
18038
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Author
Parkdean ResortsAuthor
Parkdean ResortsArticles you might like
Teaser
Finance and AccountsContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/06/2025
Summary
Let's talk about a career path that's not just about crunching numbers, but also about making waves in the holiday park industry. Yup, you guessed it—finance! Who knew those money matters could
by
Jodie Smith
Content Type
BlogPublish date
10/29/2025
Summary
Looking for reasons why a role in accommodation and housekeeping offers a perfect career move? We’ve got a super story to share from our very own Katrina Chapman, a cleaner at Parkdean’s Witherns
by
Holly Baldwin
Content Type
BlogPublish date
10/29/2025
Summary
Keeping a holiday park running smoothly is all about the amazing people, both front of house and behind the scenes. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Gavin Jackson in our Accommodation team. Ga
by
Sophie Hardy
Content Type
BlogPublish date
09/24/2025
Summary
“I started working at Nodes Point in 2012 and have been here ever since – you could say it was meant to be!” We’re all about sharing real-life employee stories at Parkdean. It helps show our tea
by
Parkdean Resorts
Teaser
Chef LifeContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/27/2025
Summary
“Working at Parkdean Resorts is a laugh. You are with friends and family on the front line, pushing each other to be better. It’s great to watch people fall in love with the job and come back eve
by
Parkdean Resorts
Teaser
AdministrationContent Type
BlogPublish date
06/18/2025
Summary
Meet Adam Lee, the very 1st person to join the Parkdean Resorts family through the Kickstart scheme back in June 2021. We’ll spotlight his inspiring journey into Parkdean Resorts so you can get a cle
by
Parkdean Resorts
Teaser
Leisure and ActivitiesContent Type
BlogPublish date
04/07/2025
Summary
At Parkdean Resorts, we’re passionate about seeing our team grow, develop, and achieve their goals. We also know there’s real value in showing off our team member’s success stories! One of the be
by
Sophie Hardy
Teaser
Parkdean LifeContent Type
BlogPublish date
03/10/2025
Summary
We’re all about showing off authentic stories from our jobs at Parkdean Resorts. We know that spotlighting our epic Parkdeaners and our variety of roles can help you make an informed decision abo
by
Parkdean Resorts
Teaser
Finance and AccountsContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/24/2025
Summary
The world of finance can be a super exciting one - it’s always evolving and keeps you on your toes! It’s especially great if you’re a whizz with data and you enjoy working with numbers. From Fina
by
Sophie Hardy
Teaser
Chef LifeContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/14/2025
Summary
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking what does a Sous Chef do?, you’re certainly not alone! In Sous Chef jobs, you know how to handle the heat and make mouthwatering dishes day in, day out. If
by
Jodie Smith