With tuition fees at an all-time high and the cost of living still a concern for most students, particularly rent, it seems more than ever are turning to part-time work to plug the gap between income and expenditure. Yet universities, particularly the most prestigious, frown on students working and some have even banned them from doing so. How do you strike a balance to stop a part-time job interfering with your studies?
Look at Funding Choices
For students who struggle financially, there are always money options so ensure you have examined all of these choices and been refused / discounted them before you consider applying for part-time work. With the higher tuition fees, there is more financial help available to students like you. When you are quite certain that you are not eligible, or you have been refused, or you have been accepted and it still isn’t enough, then consider work.
Seek Low Stress Jobs
Shop work and fast food restaurants are places where most young people will work, but these can be high-pressure environments for very low pay. The last thing you need is for a part-time job to take over your life. Smaller shops are better than chain stores, warehouses are better than supermarkets, delivery driving is better than working in a fast food restaurant and so on. University job fairs are great places to find employers willing to work with students, and this will include temping agencies which provide a variety of opportunities and hours to suit.
Work Outside of Term Time
The four or five week gap between the end of one term and the next is the perfect time to relax and recuperate, go home and have a rest and catch up with friends. Four weeks is a long break and though you will have academic work to do during this time, it is the ideal period to get a job short. This should be easier if you have a former employer who is willing to take you on for such a short period of time, particularly at Christmas on a short contract, because you will already know the job and can be flexible.
Organise And Take Care of Yourself
The point of a work-life balance is the work-life balance. Make sure you eat properly, get a good night’s sleep and organise your work, social and study life to make the best of all three. University is a rewarding experience and stressful in itself without pushing yourself beyond physical and mental limits. Over 75% of students who worked during term time said they struggled to keep up with the demands of their job and study. Don’t be another one; know when to slow down and know when to say “no” to the requests for extra shifts. Always put your studies first.