Working on Campus? Useful Tips for Undergraduate Student Employees

BY SYLVIA KOHL

Gaining experience during your college years is beneficial for students in more way than one. They get practical knowledge of the area they’re working in, they grow professionally, and they learn how to manage their own finances. However, being an undergraduate student employee is not the same as a regular employee.

There are a lot of things you need to be focused at the same time, and if you add your job to it, your life can get pretty hectic. In this article, we bring you tips on how to find a job that fulfills you and doesn’t negatively impact your other student activities.

Determine what you want

 Not all students have the same amount of free time on their hands. Thinking you can work four hours per day just because your friends work that much will not bring you any good. Focus on your own situation and see how many hours per week you can actually work. Also, ask yourself what type of job would you like to have. Do you want a job which will help you expand your knowledge from college or you want something completely unrelated to your studies? For instance, if you’re studying marketing, would you like to have a part-time job in a marketing agency or in the marketing department of a big corporation? Knowing what you want will help you achieve your goals in your professional life.

Know when to quit

 It’s inevitable that you will have to quit your job eventually, especially during student years. It can be due to an increase in student activities, new job opportunity or you simply got tired of doing that particular job. The biggest mistake students make to continue working because they are focused on the money they earn. But, working somewhere you don’t feel motivated will have a substantial impact on your overall student life. Quitting a job is never a pleasant experience, and it will never be. However, when you decide to quit, it’s vital you do it the right way to stay professional and not harm your reputation as an undergraduate student employee. You should take a look at several resignation letter samples to deliver a good one to your boss and make your few last days as enjoyable as possible.

Track your time

 Every student has numerous activities, from attending classes, studying to other student activities such as visiting events related to your studies. When you add your job to that list, you barely have time to see your friends and family. However, by tracking time, you will become more efficient and productive. Time management helps you find the time for other things that make you happy while having that healthy feeling of control. There are plenty of tools that can help you track your time and make sure you don’t forget any of your activities. One of the most effective time tracking methods for students who often have unpredictable schedules is calendar editable. This type of calendar is created on a weekly basis to make student’s plans easier to track and execute.

Ask for advice

 Most of the times, we tend to neglect the fact that our job choice significantly impacts the rest of our life. Asking someone you trust or talking to somebody at your college for help can save you a lot of time which you would probably spend wandering from one place to another. People who have been working for a while now can help you understand this world much better and give you a piece of advice that will significantly help you with your job search.

When you are looking for a job, keep in mind that you should find something that helps you develop your skills and learn new things. In the end, when you find a job you like, you will not feel the burden of going to work every day. Instead, it will be a joyful experience for you, as it should be.

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 8 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and she convinced that learning process doesn’t stop after years in school and university.

 

 

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