If You Answer Yes to These Questions, You Can Handle a Part-Time Job

By Brittany Loeffler on January 18, 2018

It isn’t uncommon for college students to grab a part-time job while in school. Now that you are coming to realize that living is expensive, you may want to make a few extra dollars so you can go out to dinner occasionally with your friends or save up to pay off those daunting student loans.

It’s easier said than done, getting a part-time job while in school. With assignments due, classes to attend, and extracurricular activities, a job can be hard to balance. How do you know if you have the time for one? You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with work and decrease your performance in school.

If you are able to answer “yes” to the following questions, you can definitely handle a part-time job right now.

relaxing, free time, bored

via Pixabay

Do You Have Some Free Time?

Are there multiple times a week that you find yourself binging on a newly released Netflix show? Maybe you find that you get your school work done in an incredibly short amount of time and you’re bored while your friends are still studying and writing papers.

If you have multiple hours of free time each week, including the weekends, it’s probably time for you to find a part-time job. Think of it, you can fill those empty hours with making money!

Is Your Workload Pretty Light?

Each semester in college is different. The workload during some semesters may be absolutely unbearable and you may be drowning in assignments while other semesters may have a much lighter workload. If you are taking general education courses or mostly electives this semester, your workload is most likely be easier and lighter than if you were taking core classes for your major.

If you find that you are able to finish your work quickly and it isn’t too demanding, you can probably handle a part-time job.

time management, time management skills, procrastination, clock

via Pixabay

Do You Have Good Time Management Skills?

Time management is an important skill to perfect and maintain throughout life, not just during college. We can all be procrastinators sometimes, it’s only human. However, if you find that you fight the urge to procrastinate and don’t leave assignments until the last second, you can most likely handle a part-time job.

When working and going to school, it’s important to stick to a schedule and have your work done on time. This may mean that you have to finish an assignment a week early so you don’t fall behind and are still able to work.

Are You Motivated?

Make a list of your goals for the semester, life, and after college. If your goal is to make money and not be drowning in student loan debt for years, you are probably motivated to make time to work a few hours during the week.

It’s important to have motivation throughout the semester because if you lack motivation, you will most likely be miserable and won’t excel in school or your part-time job.

Can You Find a Job Related to Your Major?

Depending on your major, you may be able to find a job that will help you gain experience for when you graduate and start your career. Not only will this be a great way to make money, but it is an awesome resume booster!

This part-time job may also take the form of an internship, which is perfect because it can also count for school credit.

retail, part time job, working, cashier

via Pixabay

Will You Be Overwhelmed?

You know yourself best. Ask yourself if you will be overwhelmed if you start working a part-time job. If you find that you are struggling to finish assignments and projects on time from more than just procrastinating, then maybe a part-time job will have to wait until next semester.

Seriously think about your current workload, social life, and extracurricular activities. If you feel that you can fit in a few extra hours a week to make some money at a part-time job and you are motivated to make it work, then go for it!

Is It Worth Your Time?

Sometimes working for minimum wage won’t be worth your time while in school. Depending on the commute time and cost, you may be making much less than you originally thought when you applied for the job. If you find that a majority of your earnings will be going towards travel expenses, food, or any other additional costs of having the job, it may be better to sit this one out and focus on your schooling or finding an internship.

If you answered “yes” to these questions, it may be time to start your part-time job search. When applying, make sure that the manager or supervisor is flexible in their scheduling and understands that you are a student first and an employee second. Good luck!

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