As a student it is essential to support yourself financially. We know you receive support from Student Finance England, but getting yourself a part-time job can help not only in financial gain but with your personal development and CV.
But when your part-time job is pushing you too far and affecting your education, something has to be done. Recently, my fellow students have been putting their part time jobs first and some of my friends have been doing too many late shifts.
Here’s what to do about it.
Talk to your boss
It is all about balance. If you are doing too much of one thing, then it is obvious that the other will go to pot. Think of it like scales; as one goes down the other comes up. Try to make it so that both sides of the scales are of the same weight.
If you are finding that your job is getting too much, have a chat to your manager and discuss your concerns with them. The chances are, they were once a student so they should understand where you are coming from. Maybe talk to them about your contract, maybe you could work more hours on a weekend and do one late shift? Don’t create an argument with your employer, just reason with them and make sure that you are getting the best out of your job and they are getting the best out of you.
Support from your university
No matter what course you are doing, the workload that you receive can be overwhelming. So when you have lots of assignments, you must prioritise deadlines over your part-time job.
I see students who leave a class early, or miss it altogether due to their work commitments. You have to ask yourself: “Is this all worth it, and can I catch up with all this work I am missing?” As university will hopefully teach you skills for your future career, university should come first.
Talk to your peers
If you feel like you are the only one having this problem, I can assure you that you are not alone. Your fellow peers may have part-time jobs and they might have a regular timetable, and are able to balance work at university and work a job. You can only learn from other experiences and take advice from others who may have it all worked out for you. Your friends will be going through the same thing as you, so why not ask for their advice and see what worked (and what didn’t) for them.
Having a working life and a university life is all about balance, commitment and compromise. By following these steps you should be on a successful road to having a happy working life.
Do you have problems choosing between your part-time job and university? Let us know below in the comments!
Photo: fsecart / Flickr
Freelance Reviewer/ Journalism Student at Sunderland University
https://gemmahirst.journoportfolio.com/
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