1. Know your hours
Before you accept a job or when applying, make sure you know how many hours you will be typically working per week. As a first-year student, I am reminded that I am supposed to be studying around 40 hours a week, so does the job you’re interested in jeopardise this study time? Also, ensure that the hours are not silly hours such as working through the night, for example, if you have a 9am lecture the next day.
2. Ensure they know you are a student
If your employer does not know you go home for Christmas, Easter, Summer and potentially a few weekends a year then they may not be happy when discovering this, unless they know in advance. For example, when I had an interview for my current job I had included on my CV and cover letter that I am a student, so my manager was aware and was happy for me to let her know in advance if I planned to be going home at weekends as well as during the holidays.
3. Ask to cut down hours
If your work is getting on top of you there is nothing wrong with asking your manager (politely) if you could possibly change to shorter shifts due to your workload – after all we are paying £9,000 a year to learn, not work! If they don’t understand then it might be worth leaving the job and finding a one that will be more understandable – your work is top priority and the job should not take over. The job should not cause you any more unnecessary stress than your degree is.
4. Do your work ASAP
I don’t always do this, meaning that a lot of my work is rushed due to working all weekend at my job. For example, if you are given a seminar task to prepare for in a lecture, do it after the lecture so it is out of the way and you have less stress!
5. Prepare in advance
If you know you have an essay deadline coming up in a months’ time, why not start it as soon as possible? I honestly wish I did this, because it avoids so much stress and you can work steadily. It can even be a distraction at work, knowing that you have a test or an essay due in Monday morning that you have not revised or completed in advance, whereas if you’ve already done it, there’s less worry!
6. Know your pay
Often minimum wage is usually the rate of pay for many part-time jobs, so you need to think about whether or not the pay and the hours are worth your time. My part-time job offers minimum wage, but it is pays in other ways, it’s a good way to fill my time, meet the locals, socialise and get paid!
(images from giphy.com)
So it IS possible to have a part-time job at university and is definitely worth your time as the money is always helpful, just make sure that it doesn’t take over!