Many people don’t feel they want to work while attending college or university — think of all the sports, parties, and hanging out you’ll miss, right? But working while at university can help advance your post-school career, prevent you from borrowing more money than you’ll ever pay back after graduation, not to mention provide you with a bit of extra money for the wireless bill, pizza, and road trips.
If you’re not sure whether it’s worth you working while getting your higher education, here are 5 key things to consider:
1. You Need Experience
One of the first unpleasant realities you’ll face after graduation is a crowded job market. Having education plus experience can give you the leg up you’ll need to get a great job. Even if you can’t find a great job in your chosen field, any job provides you with work experience, and money. Not only that, working while you’re at university proves to employers that you are motivated and can take on responsibility.
2. You Need to Network
Believe it or not, top executives are not going to be beating your door down the day after graduation. Working while you’re at university gives you the opportunity to make the connections you’ll need to find an even better job after graduation. And yes, that’s still true if you’re working at a fast food joint while you’re studying psychology – you never know who you’ll meet, or who you’ll have the chance to impress.
3. You Need to Decide on a Career
Bear with me on this one: imagine that you’ve decided you’re going to be a teacher. You get a part-time job working as a lifeguard, and then discover that you don’t enjoy managing difficult behaviour from children. That’s why work (and life) experience gained during college and university may come in handy. Working while you’re at university can help you decide what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what you’re not good at, while there’s still time to choose the career path that’s best for you. Or, in other words, before you choose a career you might regret!
4. You Don’t Need to Borrow Too Much
Sure, you can get student loans to pay for university expenses, but eventually those loans have to be repaid. Repaying student loans can make post-university life difficult, especially if you want to buy something expensive like a home or a car. And if you’re using credit cards to pay your university expenses, a job will benefit you even more as you can avoid interest and fees.
5. You Need Money!
Even if yor parents, scholarships or other financial aid have your university tuition and fees covered, you’ll need money for food, clothes, internet, fun, etc. If you want to stop relying on others for money, it’s time to make some of your own. Sure, it’s going to cut into your free time, but working a job while you’re at university may well improve your chances of succeeding after graduation. After all, you don’t want to be flipping burgers after university, do you?
This articles is by JE Cornett, a freelance blogger who shares tips on personal loans and credit card debt to help students and graduates get a handle on their finances.
Great advice to students. I actually found that my college job helped with my time management, in addition my Friday night job not only made me money but undoubtable saved me even more by not burning through it out with friends.