The concept of learning while earning has always been encouraged in one way or the other. Whether it's through part-time jobs, summer gigs or internships, the educational and social landscape of the country has perpetually expected students to be involved in work. For many students, it is a matter of earning extra money, while others are starting early to get work experience. Regardless of the reasons, all students find themselves in a position to decide whether or not to start a job. For them, here is a list of pros and cons to help you decide.
The Profitable Pros
Improving Time Management Skills
While this might not seem an obvious advantage, it is one thing that many look past. Taking a job can certainly improve your time management skills. Today, though the academic chores might seem more challenging, students have great resources available. Currently, it is easy to hire an essay writer who could help with tough assignments and short deadlines. So students need not stress about the work-study balance.
Getting Ahead in Your Career
As soon as you graduate, you are stepping on to the competitive market of job seekers. Unfortunately, the existing system requires even entry-level positions to have some experience. 82% of recruiters say that experience is a significant contributing factor. The only place where young students can get it is by working while in college. Gaining this experience would not only help you land jobs but advance expanding the professional network. This could open up opportunities and help you pick up a few skills along the way.
The Money Factor
With the student loan skyrocketing to 1.47 trillion in 2018, youngsters are more than eager to ease the burden by the time they graduate. Unquestionably, the appeal of extra money is what lures students to take extra jobs during studying. Whether it is to make money for comfortable living or covering some of their college tuition, the money factor is one of the best benefits of working. When you combine it with the other two benefits, it might seem like a perfect approach.
The Cons and Consequences
Less Focus on Studies
Taking a job will certainly demand both focus and time from you, which you could be putting into your studies. Without proper scheduling, you might find yourself not having enough time to spare to study or even finish the college program. It could also affect your performance in classes and participation in group projects. Difficulty in managing these two different aspects could damage your grades.
Missing Out on College Experience
Going to college is not only about academics. You also learn life experience, develop your personality, character, and make friends for life. You would be working during your spare time after attending the classes, which might include the moments you should be spending with your mates. This might profoundly affect your overall college experience and take away opportunities from you. College is one of those phases in life where you are yet to take adult responsibilities but still young enough to enjoy life. You might not want to miss out too much by working all the time.
Possible Health Issues
Having too many things on one's platter can bring more harm than good. Even with excellent time management skills, if you are tiring yourself out, it is still not good for your health. Balancing job and school are still one of the top reasons for stress among college students. Let us not forget how all these factors combined together can take a toll on your health. College students are not getting sufficient sleep, and overworking are the leading causes. For a student, a job is more of a distraction rather than a benefit. It is necessary to consider factors like how much you are making, and the effort you are putting into the job to see whether it is right for you.
Wrapping Up
Deciding whether to take a job or not will entirely depend on your lifestyle, priorities, and goals. Consider factors such as your health, commitments, and plans to choose the right job for you. It would be best to start slow and see how much you can fit into your schedule. This would give you more time to come up with a plan that will help you reap the benefits of working and balance your college life as well.
