Is it a good idea to work part-time in college?
I'm currently thinking about getting a part-time job or participating in a work-study while I'm at school. I could use the money to help pay for my textbooks and for my living expenses, but I'm concerned that my grades will suffer as a consequence. What was your experience working part-time while you were in college? How did you manage your time? #college #money #job-search #financial-services #work-life-balance #financial-planning
7 answers
Ben’s Answer
Hey Albert,
As a fellow broke college kid, I understand where you are coming from. I work two jobs part-time: CareerVillage and Abercrombie. (However, if you can avoid it don't work two jobs. I'm lucky because my jobs are pretty accommodating to my schedule. This rarely happens when you work two jobs.) However, the short answer to your question is, yes it totally is doable to work part time and be in college. My grades really haven't suffered and if anything I have a higher GPA in college than I did in high school and I'm really happy with it. Let me share some of my tips with you.
1.Make college your first priority-Tell your manager, "I'm a college student, I can only work around these times Insert the times when you are free. At Abercrombie we have a employee website where we are available to change our availability by logging into our own accounts. Also, if need to work change your work hours or take time off for whatever ever reason, let your managers know ahead of time ASAP. Most managers will understand and will be accommodating (especially if you have an on campus job.)
2. Manage your time- This is pretty obvious but there are a lot of things that go into this. Use tools like Google calendar, your phone's calendar or an actual physical planner to help budget your time. For example, l do social media for CareerVillage. I will knock that out in the morning during my gap period, I queue up all their social media ahead of time. Then when my gap is over, I will go back to class. After classes are over, I'll spend some time studying sometimes its a lot, sometimes its not a lot. I will work night shifts ( on Thursdays and Fridays) at Abercrombie if they assign me them. Also I work on the weekends I open up my availability to work whatever shift I can at Abercrombie( sometimes its morning, afternoon, or night,) they let me know on my schedule they give to me each week. So ask yourself, "how much of my free time am I going to dedicate to my studies, work, and my personal/social life?" Don't overload yourself with school and work ( it doesn't end well I've had to pull several all nighters before, its not fun.) Find the right balance.
3. Sometimes you have to sacrifice your social life. -I've remember getting invited to some parties on a Friday night and I couldn't make it due to work. Its ok. There's always going to be another party. Sometimes you can make it, sometimes you can't. Its not the end of the world. I do recommend you still maintain your social life. Don't be buried in your work and school, do some things you like so you don't go insane haha.
4.Work the early morning shifts or the super late shifts. - Look sometimes you're only free in the early morning or at night. It sucks waking up super early. It sucks working super late. Most people hate these shifts and don't want them so if you're free at those times see if you can take them, they are available. Take them sometimes and put some extra money in your pockets.
I hope this was helpful! Feel free to reach out if you have anymore questions about managing you time let me know. Also, if you need help figuring how to get a part time job or how to navigate the crazy world of retail let me know. More than happy to help! Good luck!
-Ben
Wow! Thanks for the incredibly detailed and helpful reply, I really do appreciate it. I am actually in the process of looking for a part-time job or an internship to get some real world experience (as well as earn money) in my field (I am a computer science major). Do you know any resources I could use to find those opportunities?
Albert
No problem! Glad I can help. I will reach out to some people and see if they can give you some specific advice to CS internships. I'm an advertising major so I don't know too much about computer science. However, I will tell what I would do if I were in your shoes to get some internships. I feel like there is a lot of general advice I can give you when it comes to finding jobs and networking with professionals.
1.Go directly to the source- Look at some of your favorite corporations that around your city (LA right?) . Go on their website, go to the careers section. See if they have any internship roles that are a possible fit and just apply for them. You might get them a role, you might not. But you never know unless you try.
Ben Landis
COACH
Connect with pro's in real life- Go to events tech conferences. Meet industry pro's. Talk with them. Exchange business cards. Ask them if they want to grab coffee or lunch( pay for it!) Pick their brains. If you guys meet up at later time, ask them about their job, hobbies/ interests, family life, etc! (People LOVE talking about themselves. Shocking right?) DONT BRING UP POLITICS OR RELIGION. Write them a thank you email the next day. Tell them you enjoyed the you guys spent and that you hope to stay in touch. Stay in touch with as many pros as possible they can potential help you out in the future when youre looking for job/internships. Also if you personally know people( family, family friend, a friends parents,etc) already in the tech field see if they can help you too!
Ben Landis
COACH
Take advantage of college resources- Go to career fairs. Make friends with the recruiters. Your career center is another valuable resource. Make friends with your professors. Chances are they can connect you with industry professionals.
Ben Landis
COACH
Use LinkedIn as weapon- This advice is sort of similar to the "connect with pros in real life" advice I put above. Look for professionals in the industry you want to pursue in your area on LinkedIn. Send them a message. Explain that you're a college student and you'd love to pick their brain. Invite them for coffee or lunch. If they accept follow the same steps as I put above.
Ben Landis
COACH
Also look at start up companies- Its often easier to get your foot in the door if you don't have much experience startup. AngelList (http://angel.co/) is a great website to find job/internship posting about startups. These companies need as much help as possible. So chances are you will take on a lot of projects and you will learn a lot. And your managers will be more attentive to you since startups are pretty small. And they are willing to help you learn and grow as a professional!
Ben Landis
COACH
Finally I'll say read this article Ken provided. It is super helpful! https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations Let me know if you have any further questions. I'm happy to help! (Also if you want to post another question on CareerVillage about networking and finding internships, I can answer more in depth. I'm only allowed to post 800 characters here in the comments.)
Ben Landis
COACH
Thanks for such for your response! I have been applying to internship positions online, and I will be going to a career fair this upcoming week. The information you gave about startups was very helpful, I was actually trying to figure out how to get involved in one.
Thanks again for all the information you provided, I will certainly put it to good use. I feel much more confident now, and I hope that it will translate to good results! (I also read that article about networking conversations, it's a very good read and I'm going to use some of the techniques in the upcoming fair!)
Albert
Vicki’s Answer
Maybe it's just me, but I would ask why you work while in college.
If you can afford to not work during school other than during breaks to earn what you need during school then there is nothing wrong with that. Part of college is the whole life experience. Moving away and living "on your own" for the first time, learning to manage your money, learning to manage your time, and building those life memories and experiences of all types. Some will be good and some will be not as good, but nevertheless are good opportunities to learn some life lessons while you are still in a relatively safe and more forgiving environment.
If you are paying your own way through college, or at least contributing to some portion of it where you really need to work during school, then if you can manage a part time job and still do well on schoolwork it is a very good indication that you can and will be able to prioritize tasks in your job and life later.
I hope this helps!
Thank you for the advice! My college tuition (along with campus housing, meal plans, textbooks) is on the higher side, and I want to try to pay some of back through my own volition. In addition, I want to use this opportunity to gain real world experience. If you don't mind me asking, do you have any resources I could use to find a part-time job or an internship?
Albert
Stephanie Murnen
Stephanie’s Answer
A part time job will give you real world work experience outside of the classroom, and you'll gain hard and soft skills to impress future employers, no matter what the job is. Your resume will also look more well-rounded with work experience as well as a strong academic record, and a lot of skills and experiences you acquire in any sort of part time job can translate well to talking points in an interview for an internship (as they'll often as for real world examples of different scenarios).
The extra spending money will also be nice to have in college, and having the extra responsibility will teach you how to manage your time better as the college schedule lacks the structure of high school and it can be hard to plan accordingly if you have large gaps in your day in between classes.
Thanks for your insight, I really appreciate it! I'll look around my campus for any potential listings and utilize my school's alumni connections to see if I can get any.
Albert
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
You will have to manage your time well. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
If you do, you will need to manage our time and stress. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>
Ken’s Answer
Hi Albert!
Yes, it is a good idea to work part time in college:
- it teaches you time management
- it allows you an opportunity to get practical experience in your career area
- ti allows you to earn extra money and practice money managment
- it gives you a good opportunity to get your mind off of school
When you go to college, managing time is very important. Here is how one student managed to balance work and college:
https://www.unigo.com/in-college/college-experience/creating-a-workschool-balance-a-college-student-perspective
Talking advantage of such natural connections is how many successful people got to be so successful.
Best of luck! Keep me posted. Let me know if and how this is helpful.
Thanks for the helpful and thoughtful advice! I am meeting with my academic advisor in a couple of days, and I will ask him about any potential opportunities he may have or where I can find some.
Albert
Do not overlook the alumni relations and professional organizations connections. They can be very helpful. Natural connections will help you greatly in your career and your education.
Ken Simmons
Thank you for the heads up! I have never utilized my school's alumni connections, and I'll look into it and keep you posted.
Albert
More people find jobs through head of alumni relations department than through career services
Ken Simmons
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Taking up a part-time job while studying in college can be a rewarding journey for many students. It can equip them with useful skills, financial stability, and a sense of self-reliance. However, it's crucial to think about how it might affect your academic results and overall health. Juggling work and studies demands good time management, setting priorities, and self-control.
When you're thinking about whether to work part-time during college, it's key to consider the pros and cons. On the bright side, a part-time job can help cover living costs, books, and other essentials. Plus, it provides a chance to gain real-world work experience, improve time management skills, and build a professional network. For students with federal work-study awards, these programs can provide on-campus job opportunities that match their academic interests.
On the flip side, there can be downsides to working while studying. Students might find it tough to balance work duties with academic tasks. This could lead to more stress and tiredness, potentially affecting their overall health. Also, there's a risk that working too many hours might take away from the main reason for going to college - getting an education.
From my personal experience, I found that working part-time during college was a worthwhile experience that taught me key life skills. However, it called for thoughtful planning and discipline to manage my time well. Here are some tactics that helped me strike a balance between work and studies:
Make a Schedule: It's vital to set a clear timetable for both work and study time. This helps in setting aside specific hours for each task and ensures that nothing is left out.
Set Priorities: It's important to rank tasks based on their significance and deadlines. This leads to better time management and makes sure that academic responsibilities are not overlooked.
Ask for Help: If you're feeling swamped, don't hesitate to ask for help from professors, academic advisors, or counselors. Many colleges offer resources like time management workshops or counseling services to assist students in dealing with the pressures of balancing work and studies.
In the end, the choice to work part-time in college should depend on your personal situation and priorities. It's crucial to evaluate your capacity to handle the extra duties effectively without sacrificing academic performance or personal health.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used in Answering this Question:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
U.S. Department of Education
Harvard Business Review
Wishing you success in the name of Jesus,
James Constantine Frangos.