SPM Speaking - Pros and Cons of Working Part Time as a Student

Choose your sacrifices

It is obvious that when you choose to try to balance so many things at once, sacrifices will have to be made. How much priority do you give to your student job? It is your duty to decide what are the things or activities that you will be sacrificing. An example of that would be deciding against watching TV for an hour and using that time to get some revision done instead. However, do not sacrifice things like family and friends time or work out time because that is critical to maintaining your healthy work-life balance.

Valuable experience

No matter what kind of job students can find, there is always an opportunity to get useful experience for your future career. The working environment can improve your communication skills. A candidate who can easily find common ground with others has more chances of landing a job interview than the one who does not. Your first job can teach you to solve conflicts, find non-trivial solutions to all kinds of problems, and be more responsible. All of these qualities will come in handy after the graduation.

Source of income

Of course, the most important reason that people work while studying is the money that they receive through a part-time job. Many students prefer not to rely on their families for monetary needs. They will have the ability to take care of themselves and lessen the financial burden on their family with a student job. Students who study abroad could use the extra money to pay bills, contribute to accommodations and daily expenses.

Poor time management

Part-time work tends to rely on scheduling and shift work, and this can be subject to changes. For example, you might be called in suddenly to cover for a colleague on your off-day that was planned for studying. Of course, while this is problematic in the long-term, it might be manageable in the short-term if you have colleagues and classmates who understand your situation and are willing to help you in taking notes or shift work. It is up to you to figure out if you're able to manage the stress that comes with schooling and working concurrently.

Maximise time

There are many days where you might get a spare minute. Create flashcards and keep them with you or use your phone to type your notes. You can also find apps that might help to study. Use the time it takes you to commute from your home to the workplace. Most people have at least 20 minutes to commute to their student jobs making it the perfect time to turn into micro-study sessions.

Possibility of dropping out

This might be one of the most serious negative consequences of earning money so early. Students do not see any sense in going to college if there is a possibility to get paid without a diploma. Although there are some examples of people without college degrees starting a successful business, it is better to have one just in case.

Use your time wisely

When you get breaks or vacations from work, use the time to get more studying done than you usually do. Perhaps even get ahead of the class. This simply helps to make sure that you do not fall behind when you start having a tough time managing both your job and school work.

Neglecting studies

While doing part time job, you'll have a busy schedule and you'll get less time for study and yourself. You'll not have time to rest, so you feel tired and exhausted and your study will be affected. Sometimes, part timer got good earning and that can distract them from the study. The more money you have, the more you think about it.

Networking

Work experience is a realistic measurement of someone's real potential on the job. Knowing the right people who are aware of your potential can get you better job positions and potentially better opportunities career wise. The best way to get connections is to be out there actively meeting people either through networking events or passively through student jobs! More often than not, companies are willing to offer you a position after you graduate if your performance is up to standard.

Stress

Working during the day, and studying at night can wreak havoc on your sleep patterns and cause a large amount of stress. Especially as you get nearer to exam periods, the need to study even more can make a part time job feel like a burden. Without the proper downtime to destress, you can get burned out by the end of the week. School alone can be stressful enough so adding a job to the mix will only increase the stress. If you reckon you can't take on the stress, it might be wiser to just stick to one of the two for now.

Pros of working part time as a student

- Source of income - Learn time management - Valuable experience - Learn money management - Networking - Adapt to working environment

Cons of working part time as a student

- Stress - Exhaustion - Poor time management - Lack of socialisation - Neglecting studies - Possibility of dropping out

Exhaustion

Be ready to face the unwelcoming reality of sleep deprivation. Being tired all the time is an annoying component of working. Your time management skills might have nothing to do with it. Putting too much on your shoulders has its drawbacks and exhaustion is one of them. If you see that this feeling does not go away, think about the health issues you might have. Your health is by far more important than getting a salary.

Break up study load

Carefully plan out what and when you want to study during the free time that you have. This keeps you from panicking when you have to read hundreds of pages at a time.

Look after yourself

Ensure that you have a way to handle your stress in a positive way. Find a hobby that calms you down, such as journaling or working out. Exercising has been proven to be effective in relieving stress. Find at least 30 minutes of your day to do something you enjoy as a way to reduce the pressure of learning to work and study.

Learn time management

Full time students usually only learn how to manage their time when they start to have to balance work with family; although schoolwork itself can be tough to manage, the lack of other distractions means that students can focus on their grades. However, this means that they often struggle to manage when they have to balance their work with finances, etc, when they start working. On the other hand, students who are holding down part-time jobs have similar constraints, and hence learn how to manage their time much faster than full time students. They know how to balance the stresses of work with the deadlines of schoolwork, years earlier than others.

Learn money management

Having a part-time job teaches students not only to earn, but to spend money as well. It is very tempting to buy all those little things you've always wanted now that you've received your first paycheck. But it is wiser to start saving. Life is full of surprises. You never know what you might need that money for in the future. It is more practical to have some savings than exchange your remuneration for a fading instant joy.

Adapt to working environment

Having experience in the working world will definitely help students adapt better once they've secured a job. Some students find it difficult to assimilate into a working environment which may be due to multiple aspects like expectations, change, processes and how change can be very sporadic. With prior experience, an individual will find it easier to assimilate into a work culture as they better understand the functions and processes of a company.

Lack of socialisation

How do you manage to find the time to work and study while still maintaining a healthy and active social life? It sounds almost impossible! When studying and working at the same time, social events may have to take a back seat. You may not always be able to fit your social life amongst your immediate priorities.