Benefits of part-time work

Name: Marja-Liisa Kitacheva

Year of study and subject area: 3rd year MA Sociology  

Tell me about where have you worked part-time, in which role and for how long? 
In high-school I used to work at a hotel during the weekends for several years. When I came to university I worked at a café two days a week for on semester. Recently I have started to work at another cafe and have been working there for couple of months now.

What has your part-time work involved? 
Mostly it has been ordinary café work of making coffees, doing dishes, cleaning tables, cooking and making sandwiches and working at the till. I have also been hosting some parties and doing wholesale orders and doing cash-up.

Why did you decide to work part-time besides your studies? 
I wanted to earn some money so I could better afford travelling and as I do triathlon, racing and the training equipment cost quite a bit of money. It is nice to have some money in the savings and avoid stressing about money when you want to go out for a dinner and movies with your friends. Having a job is also a good way to meet new people, get friends and gain some experience. I also like keeping myself busy and having a job is a good way to balance out all the studying and other things that I do.

How did you apply to your part-time work and how did you find the application process? 
It can be hard to find something quickly, sometimes it’s just a matter of luck. But I kept applying for places, even sent my CV couple of times to the same job. Also going to meet the people in person and bringing the CV, instead of just e-mailing it, is a good way to improve your possibilities of getting the job.  

How have you found balancing between your university studies and working part-time? 
If you plan your days well and stick to the plan you are going to be absolutely fine. Doing the university work consistently and not falling behind is the best way. Usually managers are understanding when it comes to studying and I was able to get days off to revise for exams. Thinking ahead, learning to manage your time and knowing how much work you can do is the way for me to balance between work and studying.

How do you think you have benefitted from having a part-time job besides your studies?
You get other things to think about and meet new people. Making new friends and having a life outside university is really good for me. Being more independent and earning your money yourself is also one of the benefits.

Are there any specific skills that you believe that you have gained through working part-time? 
Not leaving things half done, as that usually leads to problems in the future. Being able to work with a team no matter how you feel about others or if you are having a bad day yourself. It has thought me perseverance and time-management. 

Do you think that working part-time has had a positive impact on your prospects after graduation? 
Yes, having some sort of work experience is always good. It shows you are able to dedicate yourself to do work and cooperate with other employees. Working as a manager/supervisor indicates that you are also able to be in a leading position.

What advice would you give to other students thinking about working part-time during their studies? 
Do it if you feel like you are able to balance it among studies and don’t give up easily on looking for a job as it might not be easy, but it’s still possible.   

Do you have any additional comments about working part-time that you would like to mention? 
It can be an amazing opportunity to meet great people, earn some money and gain experience and confidence for future work. However, if the work only makes you stressed, you don’t enjoy it at all, your colleagues are not kind to you and you can’t stop thinking about how good it would be not to go to work at all, there is not point to keep on working if it’s not necessary for you to earn money at the moment.

Name: Sofie Skovfoged Gregersen

Year of study and subject area: 4th year MA Politics & International Relations.

Tell me about where have you worked part-time, in which role and for how long? 
I work at Aberdeen Sports Village as a coach and I’ve been in this role since August 2016. Before this, I was volunteering at ASV for a couple months until I was offered the role as paid coach.

What has your part-time work involved? 
It involves coaching kids’ activities and working Sports Camps at ASV. I have coached gymnastics, trampoline, disability sports and various other activities. I also work as a leader when we have sports camps during school holidays.

Why did you decide to work part-time besides your studies? 
Because I want to expand the role I play in the community – I don’t want to just socialize with people from my courses, I want to know people from the wider Aberdeen community. Plus it’s a lot of fun and I would do it even if I wasn’t getting paid to do it (which I was doing when it was ‘just’ volunteering!).

How did you apply to your part-time work and how did you find the application process? 
I got this job because I was volunteering at my workplace, but the application process was similar to what it would have been had I applied to be a paid member of staff back then. I had to fill out an application form online, pretty standard, and I was invited in for an interview. I think starting out as a volunteer is an amazing way for employers to select their employees as it involves less pressure.

How have you found balancing between your university studies and working part-time? 
I work on a casual basis which means I can choose all my hours and organize my time exactly the way I want to which is perfect when studying at university. Prioritizing is important and can be hard, but is definitely not impossible. 

How do you think you have benefitted from having a part-time job besides your studies?
I have met people outside my university bubble and have developed important people and life skills that I wouldn’t have gained if I hadn’t worked. I have not used my academic knowledge in my part time job but this has also been an advantage, as I have explored different career choices and lifestyles in my part time job.

Are there any specific skills that you believe that you have gained through working part-time? 
I have become more professional, better at managing my time as I have more to do than just studying and I feel as if I have learnt how to combine two part time “jobs” (university and actual work). As I work as a coach, I have also gained invaluable communication skills as I constantly have to instruct and explain. This has helped me to become a better communicator, which has aided me in my university career as well. 

Do you think that working part-time has had a positive impact on your prospects after graduation? 
Definitely! Working part time and managing university studies at the same time shows that you’re decent at managing your time and that you’re able to balance more than one “job”. I will draw on so much more than just my academic knowledge once I graduate. The skills I’ve gained and developed through working part time are as valuable, if not even more valuable!

What advice would you give to other students thinking about working part-time during their studies? 
Make sure you don’t work too much, steer clear of overnight shifts as these are sure to mess up your sleeping pattern. Sometimes this is a necessity due to financial issues, but if at all possible, stay away from them. University comes first and you’re not going to want to go to that 9am lecture if you worked the whole night.

Name: Amy Pritchett

Year of study and subject area: 4th year Geology. 

Tell me about where have you worked part-time, in which role and for how long? 
Transition Extreme – 2 years.

What has your part-time work involved? 
Assisting and greeting customers, reception duties (i.e. filing, answering emails), complaints.

Why did you decide to work part-time besides your studies? 
Needed money, always had a part time job, enjoy where I work. 

How did you apply to your part-time work and how did you find the application process? 
Word of mouth – application was straight forward.

How have you found balancing between your university studies and working part-time? 
Fine, as I don’t work many hours. 

How do you think you have benefitted from having a part-time job besides your studies?
Time-management, a little extra money each month to help with living expenses, met lots of nice people. 

Are there any specific skills that you believe that you have gained through working part-time? 
Answering emails in a professional manner, multitasking, time-management, confidence talking to new people. 

Do you think that working part-time has had a positive impact on your prospects after graduation? 
Yes, because I think employers value when a person can show a good balance between university and part-time work. It shows that a person can manage multiple tasks. 

What advice would you give to other students thinking about working part-time during their studies? 
Think about how demanding your course is and whether it makes sense to work part-time, also try to get a job which is flexible and understanding of your study needs. 

Name: Rebecca Finlayson

Year of study and subject area: 3rd year MA History.

Tell me about where have you worked part-time, in which role and for how long? 
Reception supervisor and acting duty manager at Transition Extreme! My role at receptions it to co-ordinate bookings, manage the desk, greet customers and visitors and train/supervise the reception staff. My occasional role as ADM entails managing the entire staff across all departments, being first-aid response and ensuring the centre runs smoothly. 

What has your part-time work involved? 
First-aid trained, knowledge of products lessons, sports etc., dealing with difficult people/complaints, customer service, management experience

Why did you decide to work part-time besides your studies? 
Because I needed the money and experience. 

How did you apply to your part-time work and how did you find the application process? 
The application process for Transition Extreme was lengthy and competitive but easy to follow. Online application and then interview – got the feeling they were looking not only for someone qualified but a good fit for the relaxed and hard-working environment. 

How have you found balancing between your university studies and working part-time? 
Working has affected my studies both positively and negatively. On one hand, it keeps me motivated and busy which helps productivity in terms of studying but on the other you do get tired and it can take up a lot of time. 

How do you think you have benefitted from having a part-time job besides your studies?
Organisational and time-keeping skills have improved, as well as momentum to keep busy during quieter periods during and out with term-time. 

Are there any specific skills that you believe that you have gained through working part-time? 
Time-keeping, management experience, delegation skills, team working and building.

Do you think that working part-time has had a positive impact on your prospects after graduation? 
100%.

What advice would you give to other students thinking about working part-time during their studies? 
You have to be hard-working and dedicated to both working and especially your studies.