Pros & Cons of Part Time Job For College Students

Pros & Cons of Part Time Job For College Students

College students take up part time job chiefly for two reasons; firstly for meeting a part or whole of their educational expenses and secondly for making some extra money for personal spending. For part time jobs you may be required to work for 10 to 20 hours a week.

You can take up jobs such as baby sitter, peer tutor, on-campus jobs, retail sales, barista, internships, restaurant positions and many more The following are the various pros and cons of such work.

Pros of Part Time Job

  1. Gaining Skills for Money Management

Usually, you get money from your parents for your education. You may not be aware how to manage money. But when you put your own efforts for earning money, you can manage money better, when you grow up and do a full time job.

You can meet your personal expenses such as transportation, entertainment, cell phones. Budgeting is most important for money management. You can gain skills for avoiding overspending and growing your savings.

  1. Improving Time Management Skills

Besides providing time for part time work, you have to attend your regular classes and study at home. You have to finish all your project work and term papers.

You may also have to find time for friends. Thus, you have very busy schedules. After your graduation, you may have to work for a fast-paced demanding position and may be required to meet deadlines.

During eight hours a day working, you will have to be well-versed in scheduling your job, in order to survive in your work place.

  1. Gaining a Competitive Edge

Gaining work experience while in working relieves you from the tag of ‘fresher’, usually put by employers. You get a competitive edge over other job seekers having the same qualification as yours.

The employer knows that you can better accommodate yourself to the new working environment. You can even get a better starting salary compared to others.

  1. Increased Cash Flow

If your parents are financially hard-pressed; they may be providing only your living and educational expenses like college fees etc.

In such eventuality, you may be constrained for cash to meet your personal expenses like clothes, hobbies and entertainment.

You may also be requiring bulk cash for doing your project work or for going out for a college excursion. Your cash flow will be eased and with no anxiety for extra cash, you can concentrate better on your studies.

You do not have to go for student credit cards if you work for 2-3 hours in part time. Its always advisable for students to do a part time job from home because it may save your traveling time. There are few sites like SureJob which provides such part time jobs for students.

  1. Pre-Job Training

You are learning a job while you are working. You are getting trained for your future prospective job.

When you join an organization after graduation, you may not have to undergo the initial training, thus getting a favorable treatment from your employer.

This also adds to the chances of your promotion. You know how to work in a team and deal with the customers.

  1. Observing and Absorbing

When you work part time in an organization, you have the opportunity of observing the action and dealings of mangers and absorbing the same which may be helpful when you actually assume the role of a manager.

You get the inspiration and motivation when you assume the real job responsibilities.

  1. Learning Business Clues

If you have a bent of mind for establishing your own business after your studies, you can assimilate certain business clues from the organization you are working part time.

This will help you in establishing and managing your own business enterprise independently.

  1. Acclimatizing with Job Environment

As a student, you have your own freedom and autonomy which you won’t find in a fulltime job situation. You have to yield to ’bossing’.

Your future boss may be benevolent and may be ruthless also. While doing a part time job, you learn how to deal with a boss. You develop the required traits such as submissiveness, obedience, punctuality, responsibility, accountability and flexibility.

  1. Opportunity for Networking

While working part time, you come in contact with people from various fields. By socializing with resourceful people, you get the opportunity to develop networking at any company. This in turn may add to your income.

  1. Self-Satisfaction

If you have taken up the part time job as a measure to compensate the cash deficiency from the amount sent by your parents, you will get a self satisfaction of performing your filial duty.

Moreover, the hard earned money inspires you to put yet more attention to your studies. Consequently, your overall performance will increase significantly.

Cons of Part Time Job

  1. Drainage of Academic Time

The primary objective of a college student is to complete his graduation. Taking up a part time makes it obligatory to give a fixed time; causing drainage to your academic time.

As a result, you may not be able to complete your home work or even your project work.

  1. Absenteeism due to Fatigue

Being fatigued due to par time job, you may be constrained to take rest which in turn may lead to absenteeism and consequent loss of lessons taught in the class. Adverse effects on your academic activities may defeat the very purpose of your going to college.

  1. Lower Grading

Due to the drained academic time, your gradation in examinations may be lower than others which in turn may pose problems for higher studies or for getting a suitable job. You lose competitiveness in the job market

  1. Resorting to Drugs

In order to overcome the fatigue or anxieties of the part time job, you may fall victim to abuses of drugs or alcohol, thus affecting your health as well as studies.

  1. Negative Effects of Harsh Work

If you take up a part time that involves harsh or negative work environment, you may develop an aversion for the jobs in future.

  1. Misbalancing of Time

Being tempted to earn more, you are likely to give more time for job than on studies that may lead to failure in your examination

With all the pros and cons, you should resort to a more judicious, balanced and matured decision, so that your basic objective is not vitiated.