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Time English (United States) Language 2 Action
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It might be hard to believe, but it's actually pretty common to work while you're in college.
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In fact, over 80% of part-time undergraduates work,
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while 43% of full-time undergraduate students work.
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That's... that's a lot of students who are out there trying to balance
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learning and coursework and friends and family, rest and fun.
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It's like the ultimate juggling act–and yet, if you don't know anyone in college
00:24
who's working, you might not be aware of how normal it is.
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Many of those students work to pay for stuff like tuition or textbooks and other supplies.
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Other students work to fund their living expenses,
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like gas or the bus to get to school, food, or rent.
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Or necessities like childcare or health insurance.
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None of these reasons are mutually exclusive, and sometimes students
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even work to get experience or to earn cash for school trips and nights out with friends.
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For me, my job in college helped me learn to manage my time and to pay for necessities.
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So yes, working and going to school is not easy, but if you’re thinking about giving
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it a shot,
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you’re definitely not alone.
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It takes some planning, but getting a job while pursuing your studies
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also comes with several benefits for your career and professional development.
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Hi, I’m Erica Brozovsky, and this is Crash Course: How to College.
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a Study Hall series presented in partnership with Arizona State University.
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Today we’re talking about how to balance a job while you’re in school.
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[INTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
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If you want (or need) a job while you’re in college,
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one of the first things to consider should be how many hours you can dedicate
01:22
to a job as that will help you decide what kind of job you should look for.
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You’ll need to think about how many hours all the different parts of your life
01:29
take and where a job might fit in.
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Like maybe you take care of a family member in the mornings before heading to class.
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And in an earlier episode of How to College, we mentioned that the amount of time
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you spend on coursework depends on whether you are enrolled part-time or full-time.
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Different classes also require different amounts of study time.
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So writing down your full schedule or creating a calendar is a good first step.
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You might discover you really only have time for something more short term,
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like a seasonal job at a local company where you
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only work during busy times like the holidays.
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Businesses located close to college campuses are often used to hiring students,
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so they may offer more flexibility than other places.
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Or if the hours you have available have to be close to when your classes are,
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you might consider an on-campus job.
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And bonus!
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-- if you get an on-campus job, you may have more flexibility to work
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and still be involved in campus activities.
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In most cases, you can inquire directly with the department you want to work
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for or contact the career center at your college to learn more about
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job opportunities on campus.
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Many institutions have online job board services too.
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If you are eligible for Federal Work-Study, you have the option
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to get a part-time job on or off-campus.
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Federal Work-Study—which you may remember from episode 5—
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is a government program that funds part-time work experiences for eligible students.
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Your financial aid office or student career center can help you determine
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whether you are eligible for Federal Work-Study and where you can find these jobs.
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You can also check out StudentAid.gov for more information about the Federal Work-Study
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program.
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Then once you figure out the type of job that works for your schedule,
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consider what you’re working toward, whether that’s making extra money
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or gaining early experience in your field.
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It’s worthwhile to mention that many students balance full-time work
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with part-time enrollment and successfully progress through college.
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But whether you have a job already or are searching for one once you’ve started school,
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making all the pieces of your life fit together will take some creativity.
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For instance, if you have to commute to your job or school, think about
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using that time to review a study guide for one of your courses.
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You can also listen to an audio book or tune into a lecture, as long
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as it doesn’t compromise your ability to commute safely and stay aware of your surroundings.
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If you need other pockets of time to study, be sure
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to take all the breaks you’re allowed and try to use part of each one to review your
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class notes or check your syllabus to make sure you’re not missing
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any upcoming assignments.
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But as important as work and school might be, they’re not as important
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as our well-being.
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You’ll perform much better in class and at work if you’re
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investing time in yourself and the things you like to do.
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Going to school is challenging enough, but adding work and personal commitments
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can make you feel like you want to quit.
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Make time for yourself as often as you can to avoid burnout,
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which The American Institute of Stress describes as exhaustion, frustration,
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headaches, and other physical and emotional symptoms brought on by stress.
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We’ll go into more detail about taking care of your mental health in our next episode.
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Time management is central to everything we’ve discussed so far:
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finding a job, using your breaks wisely, and taking care of yourself.
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Whether you’re naturally good at managing your time or you need a bit of help,
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you can use time management tools, like planners, calendars, and lists to help stay on track.
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Apps like Evernote, Trello, and Google Keep are designed to help you stay
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organized and productive.
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Other apps like Serene, Freedom, and AntiSocial help to block distractions
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on your phone so that you can focus better.
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You can also tap into tools through Blackboard or Canvas,
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which are online learning platforms that many teachers use regardless
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of if it is an online or in-person class.
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In fact, you may already be using one of these platforms to access your courses.
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You can use the calendars and assignment tracking tools they have
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to stay on task and maintain balance in your schedule.
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With so many apps and tools available, you might be wondering
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how to choose the best one for yourself.
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It might take some trial and error–just try one out and see if you like it!
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Understand how you work best and what motivates you to succeed.
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Use that knowledge to choose tools that meet your specific needs
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and enable you to excel at working while in college.
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Knowing yourself is important when it comes to setting realistic goals
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and expectations.
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For example, if you know that your energy is highest during the afternoons,
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try not to schedule too many morning courses and see if you can get a job
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that has evening shifts.
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While you should try to be flexible for the times when you have to take a morning class
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or work an early morning shift, you should also be mindful of your own strengths
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and weaknesses as you make plans for college and work.
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But regardless of why you’ve decided to work while in school or
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how you choose to manage your time, Keep in mind that working while in college
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gives you useful experience to add to your resume.
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You can gain hard skills, which are also known as technical skills,
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through on-the-job training.
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Examples of hard skills include accounting, data analysis, graphic design, and marketing.
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Soft skills, on the other hand, are character traits and interpersonal skills
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– they're skills that are about who you are rather than what you know.
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Examples of soft skills in the workplace include leadership and mentoring skills,
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communication skills, conflict resolution, and even time management skills.
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As you pursue employment, consider which of these skills you have
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and which ones you still want to develop.