August 22, 2014, by Beth Dawson
Three steps to balancing part-time work and university life
You might be starting university in September or perhaps you’re returning to Nottingham after your summer vacation – whatever the case, there are plenty of reasons to consider a part-time job. You won’t only will feel less stretched and in control of your budgeting through having an extra bit of money, but you will be able to enhance your CV and develop skills that will serve you well when you decide to apply for a graduate position or internship.
Find your perfect job match
As a student, flexibility is important and it’s not recommended that you work more than 16 hours a week. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, you’ll need to consider what other commitments you have. It’s more than possible to find jobs for a day as an open day helper or at a photoshoot event if you are looking for something less permanent. You might also be able to arrange a regular shift pattern with your employer to work around your studies. Keep in mind that night jobs might not be suitable if you have lectures in the morning!
Equally, it’s still important to have a social life and it may be important for you to see your family or friends at the weekend, so you don’t want your time at Nottingham to be all work and no play. Our ‘popular part-time positions’ blog is a good guide to some options you might consider.
Organise your many commitments
Once you’ve found the right job to suit your needs it’s worth planning your weekly schedule ahead of time. Writing a to-do list is a great way to organise your work and you’ll be surprised by how many hours you win back through stopping procrastination in its tracks!
The consequences of waiting until the last minute when faced with a deadline is an important lesson that waits for some – if you plan ahead of time, however, you should be able to avoid those dreaded all-nighters. For those of you looking for jobs right now, try to do as much reading as possible while you have the spare time.
The summer is also a good time to look through our vacancies before term starts. One place to look for part-time and temporary work is through Unitemps, our on-campus recruitment agency. You may be surprised by how much opportunity is out there!
Make time for play, as well as work
We wouldn’t encourage you sacrifice making the most of your time at Nottingham. There are lots of societies and sports teams that you can enjoy being part of. Without even knowing it, you’ll be building a range of skills in communication and team work, as well as become more confident. Take a look at the extracurricular activities we offer so that you can get involved.
Want to know more? Visit our part-time work and sources of vacancies webpages and keep an eye on Unitemps, as there are always new positions opening up. Finally, remember that we’re on hand to help and you are more than welcome to ask us a question on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
students should work as early as possible,this is very good in the future as it gives more experience in personal financial development