Does taking care of business pay?

Everyone thinks that getting a job whilst at university will be the solution to all their problems… but does having a job at the same time as studying for a degree solve problems or just create more?

Imagine this: you have updated your CV to include your latest crazy volunteering trip abroad which demonstrates how much you’ve grown as a person, gained independence and all the important stuff we know prospective employers love to read. The impossible happens and you secure an interview.

The interview goes well but you’re not sure if you’re good enough. The boy in his sharp Armani suit and crazy confidence is sure to get it! Two days later you get a phone call confirming that you are in fact more amazing than Mr Designer Suit and you’ve got the job!

Term starts and the hype for the new job and the money you’re going to be raking in starts. You get back to uni and have your first few shifts, the majority of which you spend hanging near the mop bucket, just in case last night’s jaeger bomb session decides to rear its ugly head.

So far everything is amazing; you’ve made new friends at work, even got a few cheeky phone numbers over the counter and you’ve received a hefty first pay, a great reward for the all the hours you’ve put in! Look a little closer though and the cracks start to appear.

There are many advantages to having a job whilst studying for a degree; the main one, having an additional income and not having to constantly beg your parents for extra money.

Having a job also allows you to gain skills university alone can’t offer you – you get to experience the real world at the same time as achieving a degree that will better your future. You have the chance to meet a more diverse range of people, make long-term friendships outside of the student community and improve time-management skills.

However, there are also many disadvantages to working while you study. No matter what, time-management problems will undoubtedly reveal themselves (unless you are one of those super organised, super-efficient people, but most of us students, unfortunately, are not). Further into term, the increasing workload (especially in second year) makes it more and more difficult to manage time, however good at juggling you are!

It is at this point it becomes obvious that making sacrifices and ranking priorities is imperative. For me, having a job working 24 hours a week, being on the exec of a society and studying Psychology full-time became too much. Society responsibilities were pushed aside, lectures were forgotten, deadlines were missed and the job became the only important thing.

My advice to you if you want to get a job whilst at university is to make sure your employer knows that you are studying for a degree. The best place to look for work is on campus itself, because your work hours will be scheduled during term time, meaning you will have no problems when it comes to Christmas or Easter and you want to go home for the holidays.

Campus employers will also be more flexible with hours and will more understanding about degree commitments compared to employers outside campus.

A key point to remember is to put your studies first and manage your time appropriately in order to get your work done efficiently. The most important thing – don’t let yourself get bogged down. If you feel that having a job is too much for you, leave!

Enjoy your experience at university and whilst challenging yourself is an important aspect in personal growth, studies and happiness come first, after all, we are paying a fortune to learn.