Is it Possible to Work while Studying for a Degree?
Friday, July 22, 2022
We all know that one of the hardest things while being a college student is finding a way to get your own money while earning a degree. If you are not completely sure whether to find a job or not, keep on reading this article!
The whole process of choosing a major, finding your ideal university, and deciding what is the best for you is exceedingly difficult. It turns out to be more difficult when you realize you should probably get a job to pay for the tuition fees or extra costs. What should you do? Should you give up your dream career and find a full-time job? Or should you try to simultaneously work and study?
We know this is a stressful situation and a hard choice to make, that is why we have decided to give you different points of view. In order to make this decision easier, here are some advantages and disadvantages of working while studying to get a degree and some tips you could follow to help you.
Advantages
Earn Money ✅
One of the advantages of getting a full-time job is that you are in a better economic position. That way, you will have the opportunity to buy the things you need, the things you like the most. If you want to buy clothes you like, you could do it! Getting a job implies a huge responsibility but at a certain point, it will bring you economic stability. It does not matter if you get a full-time job or a part-time job, the money you earn will help you pay for your textbooks, your rent, your food, and the things you like and enjoy.
Professional Experience ✅
Another advantage of getting a job is that you can eventually add experience to your résumé. You can find an everyday job, working in a cafeteria, or a fast food restaurant or you can find a job related to your major. If you are lucky enough to find the latter, your résumé will look fantastic! Besides, you could apply what you have learned in college. If you cannot find a career-related job, don’t worry! You will gain professional experience no matter what.
Time Management ✅
Time is really important in everybody’s lives. There is a huge possibility that, by getting a job while studying, you will learn how to manage your time. Having a job will help you prioritize certain tasks and forget about others. Working will help you balance your life and choices, choosing the most important ones first and leaving the minor ones for later. Even when you are not at work, you will learn how to manage your time.
No Debt ✅
As mentioned before, getting a job will give you a salary, thus, you will have fewer debts. By getting a job, you will have the opportunity to pay all the debts you may have regarding college and you will be able to graduate from college with no debts.
Disadvantages
Stress ❎
The most important disadvantage of having a job while studying to get a degree is that the whole situation is stressful. You feel anxious and stressed because you feel like you will not be able to give all of you to either of the two. Feeling stressed about having a job during college is normal, so do not feel bad. You will reach a point where you are going to find a balance between the two and you will not feel anxious and stressed anymore.
Priorities ❎
Another common disadvantage of working while studying is that you will have to change your priorities. Working while studying to earn a degree means that college will stop being your number one priority and you will not be able to give it 100% of your attention. However, that does not mean you will have a hard time in both cases. By studying and working at the same time, you will have to split your time and your attention to one thing at a time. You will probably not going to be able to be 100% available to both of them, but you will make it work.
Lack of Time ❎
Another common disadvantage of working while studying is that you will have less time to study and also for entertainment. All of us organize our time to get the best of us while studying; however, by getting a job, our time will be interrupted. We will find ourselves in the position of not having enough time to study or even to spend some time with our family or friends. We should be prepared for the lack of time in our lives.
Career-related Jobs ❎
Another drawback of working while studying is that in most cases, the jobs we find are not related to our major. If you are in your first years of college, you should be prepared to get a job that is not related to your major. It is more usual than you think. But do not be disappointed! Getting a job is something important. It will help you develop your knowledge and earn some money while preparing yourself for your future career.
🔰Our suggestions🔰
Organize your day: In order to avoid feelings of stress and anxiety, you should get your day organized. Use the time you are not working to study and use weekends too. Create a study plan. However, do not get so excited about spending all of your free time studying. Remember to leave some time for your family, friends, and hobbies too.
Free time: As mentioned before, leave some time to spend on activities you like: visiting your friends and your family, watching a movie, reading a book. If you spend all of your day working and studying, you will get stressed for not having enough time for yourself. Give yourself some quality time.
Focus on your goals: While working and studying, you will probably feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Nevertheless, you will always have to remember what your goals are. Focus on your degree and your job.
All in all, we can conclude that working while studying might be difficult, but it can have certain benefits too: you will earn your own money, get experienced in different fields, you will learn how to manage your time more effectively and also you will graduate with no debts. Do you think you will be able to work while studying? Have you set your priorities?
