I have done and still do a lot of part-time work at Imperial. It is financially rewarding and it feels that I am contributing to the Imperial community in some way. Last time, I spoke about working as a student caller and fundraiser with the regular giving team. This time, I am going to tell you about what the President’s Ambassador (PA) scheme is and what it is like to be a PA.
The Application Process
Hiring usually opens a few weeks into the first term of the academic year. You are required to fill a standard application form to provide your contact details, the reasons behind applying, and any previous experiences you have. No CV or references required! If your application is successful, you will be invited for a group interview. Thinking back, my PA interview was the most relaxed interview I have ever had to do. The interview essentially assesses your suitability to the work. Following the interview, you will either be rejected or made an offer to join the PAs team. If you choose to accept the offer- you really should- then you will have to do some routine paperwork and identity checks to be added to the College’s payroll.
Training
You will obviously be asked to attend a short training session. I remember it was in the afternoon and it was 2-3 hours max. The session aims to inform you what is expected of you as a PA and you get to meet some senior PAs to ask any questions about the role. Although I should warn you, there will be some regular and awkward ice-breakers at the start- always fun. Otherwise, the training session is immensely insightful and informative!
On Shift
“The range of activities that President’s Ambassadors get involved in is very wide, including:
- leading official Imperial College London campus tours
- representing the College at Open Days
- giving student life talks at schools and on-campus
- meeting and greeting delegations of international visitors
- ushering at special Imperial occasions”
The above is directly taken from the official Imperial College London website. This is one of the perks of the job; the diversity of your tasks and the element of choice you get. Your shift can range from a regular one-hour-long campus tour to a 9 to 5 shift helping out during the open days. Moreover, there is a chance to do remote work through webinars for prospective students.
The Time commitment
There is no minimum time commitment. You only sign up for work when you are available. You get emailed about opportunities when they arise. If you are free and would like to take them then you email back saying so and you only hear back if you were selected. Opportunities are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Once you join the scheme, you are on it until you graduate which means that you don’t have to reapply every single year.
What I Gained from This Experience
Alongside the financial reward, there is a huge potential for networking with staff and guest speakers. A few times now, I found myself helping out at lectures where I was genuinely interested in the topic and I ended up having great conversations with the speakers. Additionally, I have significantly improved my communication skills and public speaking ability. I have also met a lot of fellow students with whom I have become really good friends.
There is more information available through this link. I hope this blog is useful and feel free to get in touch with any questions!
