Navigating your first part-time job

Perks

Getting a part time job while at college or university can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your early professional life. Not only do part time jobs offer new skills, references and pocket money but they can also allow you to be part of a workplace culture and meet new people.

Problems

The problem is that it can be tricky without experience to get a job at a place you’re happy to work in and employers know this. There are some privately owned businesses that capitalise on the fact that young workers don’t know what to expect from their first jobs and will do anything to get that valuable experience. To make sure you get what you need out of your time at the company, keep in mind the following tips.

1. Make sure you have a contract and understand the terms of that contract

There are some businesses that exploit the fact that first-timers may not know what they’re signing up for. Study your contract to make sure you understand the minimum and maximum requirements of your position, as well as the length of your trial period, so that if you encounter any difficulties you know your rights.

2. Set yourself a goal and don’t exceed this goal unless you wish to

Although you may have signed up for casual labour with the expectation of one or two shifts a week, most employers (especially in bars or cafes) will expect you to work more shifts than you sign up for, at short notice, and at times you have not agreed to. If you don’t want to work the extra hours then avoid your phone on days off or just say no politely when you can’t work. It is good to give the impression that you want the job and will work hard, but don’t present an image of indefinite availability otherwise you’ll end up working more than you intended at the expense of your education.

3. Keep your relationships impersonal and professional

For at least the first few months or until the end of your trial period your continued employment or the amount of shifts you are given may be decided by the personal preferences of your manager. Although engaging in the company culture can be a beneficial experience in the long run, initially it’s best to remain a little guarded without seeming cold. If you don’t have anything nice to say, go home and say it to people you can trust. This includes steering clear of social networking and tightening up your privacy settings.

4. Stay long enough to get experience, then make a polite exit

If you manage to get a job at a place that makes you unhappy, it can be worth sticking it out for a while to develop your skills and prove your staying power for a CV. If you can’t stand your part time job or it becomes too much for you to juggle, try negotiating a lower shift load with your manager and work the minimum amount of hours you can without making a bad impression whilst looking for your next job.

5. You don’t need a reference from every employer

If you do have a bad experience with an employer and it ends on bad terms this doesn’t mean you’ll be incapable of finding work again! Try and get as many paid and volunteer experiences as you can so that you have a wide selection of employers to ask for references and make sure you only provide these details to a potential employer if they request them.

Remember that you don’t owe your employer anything but what you’ve agreed to. Try your best, work hard and make a good impression but not at the expense of the rest of your life or your well-being.

Do you have any advice on navigating your first part-time job? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo: Beverley Goodwin / Flickr

Gabe Hurst

English student at Warwick, writer, gamer, job seeker.