Imagine finishing school only to start a shift right after, this deep dive into a working six former’s life provides an insight into the juggle between books and bucks.

 

Students may choose to work for various reasons aside from saving, this could be based around gaining experience, independence and having a personal source of income. 

Biggest challenges 

A working six former reported that some of the biggest challenges around balancing both working and studying were that weekends were never free’ making time to do homework ‘limited’.

As well as this, ‘travel times were long’ and work investments lead to her having to cancel hang outs with friends and ‘miss out on genuine experiences’.

Having a job also reduces any break from the continual routine of waking up early and being occupied the whole day. Harder days at work involved delays in public transport, heavier workloads and last minute schedule changes.

Overall working didn’t have any benefit on academic studies and was an extra responsibility for students to have to consider.

The best parts

The six former presented many pros such as ‘the basic feeling of productivity and accomplishment after a weekend of work’ and an ‘increased level of confidence’ due to cultivating major social skills.

As well as this, working gives you experience and ‘lots to talk about in CVs, personal statements and future job applications’ such as knowing how to communicate and build confidence. Students who worked felt they had an advantage in comparison to their peers, due to having more to talk about in interviews and getting a head-start on work life.

Additionally, having a job gives you a strong sense of independence as ‘you have that little bit of money you know you made yourself’, making you more financially stable in preparation for future careers and uni life.

Since the students felt that ‘communication is important in everything you do’ they felt working equipped them with skills that enhanced this, for example liaising with employers, getting to know people at work and talking to clients.

Also employers were always aware that the students had other commitments and were mindful of this, ‘showing more leniency towards’ them.

Likewise, students gained time management and social skills, also had an increased chance of securing jobs later down the line as they already had work experience.

Useful Advice

Keeping up with employer expectations can be difficult but after discussing with students who work, there is plenty of advice they have to offer.

  •  Getting a job can be least stressful if you begin at a less demanding time of year-‘it’s far easier to balance work at the start of year 12 because the academics are lighter’. 
  • Working reduces the time you have to study, so ‘reduce your hours around exam season’ and ‘stay after school to catch up with missed hours’ where possible. 
  • Create a timetable where you can allocate time to study more effectively to make-up hours.
  • Understand the importance on a non stressful working environment and lighter workloads to avoid feeling drained and pressurised.
  •  Use holiday periods effectively with reduced work and more focus on school.
  • Try getting work done the day it is set to stay organised.
  • Always have school work done first, as everything else comes afterwards and ‘work is a choice you decide to make’.

To conclude…

Students who work are common, there are many advantages to this lifestyle and benefits it provides, embarking on a career journey early gives you a source of income and experience of the working environment.