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Job 6, 2021
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12 Benefits of Working a Part-
Time Job as a Student
Thinking of getting
Browse a job during your studies? Read on
Categories
to learn what are the benefits to part-time work as a
CVs & Résumés
student.
Interviews
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Choosing a Career
Career Development
Joanna Zambas
Professional Skills
Entrepreneurship
Content Manager and Career Expert
HR & Recruitment
Student Part-Time
Starting Job Benefits
Your Career

This article containsChoosing

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Finding a Job
Working while studying seems like a total drag.
CVs & Résumés Interviews Job Search Working
After
Abroad attending classes for over eight hours a day, the
last thing you want to do is commit yourself to a four-
Work Life but there are many benefits of working a
hour shift,
part-time job as a student.
Break Room Company Culture Freelancing Money &
Success Workplace
From making some extra money on the side to gaining
valuable work experience, here’s why you should
Succeeding at Work
consider taking on part-time work.
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1. You earn
Professional Skills extra pocket money
Web & Tech

Management
What better reason is there to get a part-time job than
earning some extra cash?
Entrepreneurship HR & Recruitment Leadership
Being a student usually means little or no money, but
when you’re working part time, you no longer have to
worry about being able to afford the basic essentials –
or relying on your parents or student funding to get by.

You can start affording little luxuries like going out

with friends and treating yourself to something nice.
You can even set your paycheque aside and put it
towards your tuition fees.

TRY READING:
Gig Economy Jobs to Make Extra Income

2. You learn to manage your

money
When you start making money of your own, you tend
to become more cautious about how you spend your
hard-earned cash.

Not only can early employment help you build up long-

term savings, but it also makes you financially aware
from a young age, meaning you’ll have better
budgeting and money management skills when you’re
older, avoiding heaps of debt in the process!

3. You gain transferable skills

A part-time job can help you gain key skills from work
experience that a university or college degree won’t
teach you.

Indeed, by working in a fast-paced environment, for

example, you will learn how to work as part of a team
or on your own, as well as how to use your initiative
and develop a considerable attention to detail – all
valuable skills that can be carried across different jobs
and in all aspects of life!

4. You become more confident

If you’re shy and introverted, a part-time job can help
you come out of your shell and aid in growing your
confidence.

And as most student jobs are found in hospitality and

retail, which are both mainly customer-facing
industries, you’ll be forced to interact with lots of
people that you wouldn’t normally talk to. As a result,
you’ll learn to be more comfortable around others.

5. You develop interpersonal skills

As well as confidence, student employment provides
you with an opportunity to learn how to interact with
different personalities – an essential skill in all types of
jobs.

Through part-time work, you will learn how to talk to a

variety of people from different walks of life, forcing
you to be sensitive to cultural differences in the
workplace. You will also learn the best ways to
communicate with your colleagues, forcing you to
think about how your words can affect other people’s
actions and vice versa.

6. You gain independence

Whether you’re a high school or a university student,
working part time can help you gain independence.

Indeed, you will be responsible for your own schedule,

money and duties. As a result, you will be less reliant
on those around you, and you will learn how to fend for
yourself. This newfound independence will also help
build your character, which will be beneficial to you
both while studying and in your career.

7. You learn to manage your time

wisely
Going to classes, working a part-time job, socialising
with friends and making time for your hobbies make
for a busy schedule, but juggling so many different
tasks can help you improve your time management
skills. Indeed, you will generally become more
organised and efficient with your time, planning ahead
to ensure you can fit everything into the limited time
you have.

If school work becomes overwhelming, meanwhile, ask

your manager to reduce your hours so you can fit
everything in. (That’s another benefit of part-time jobs:
they tend to be pretty flexible!)

8. You get access to discounts and

perks
Naturally, you will try to find a job at one of your
favourite stores, restaurants or brands, and if you’re
lucky enough to bag one of these jobs, you will get
access to discounts and all kinds of other perks. In other
words, you not only get paid to work at one of your
favourite places, but you also get to save money on
purchases!

However, be careful not to go overboard and spend

your entire salary in your workplace! (Talking from
experience here!)

TRY READING:
Companies with the Best Travel Perks

9. You build your professional

network
No matter where you’re working, a part-time job gives
you the chance to network with other people. So, even
if you’re not gaining work experience in a field that you
want to pursue, you are still making connections in the
professional world.

For example, you might meet a client who’s working

for your dream company, or your employer may know
somebody who works there. You never know who
knows who, so treat every conversation as a chance to
progress in your career, and always keep the door open
for further discussions.

TRY READING:
How to Use Networking to Find a Job

10. You make new friends

Whether you’ve moved across town or to an entirely
new country for your studies, getting a part-time job
can enhance your social life. Indeed, every work
environment brings you the opportunity to make
lifetime friends.

You’ll naturally bond with some colleagues and will

end up spending time with them outside of the
workplace. But don’t focus solely on making friends –
don’t forget that you were hired to do a job, not
socialise at work!

11. You gain work experience

Gaining any work experience adds credibility to your
CV, which can help you stand out as a viable candidate
when you’re applying for an internship, apprenticeship
or a graduate job.

Employers generally prefer to hire applicants with

some form of work experience, as they already have an
understanding of workplace ethics and company
culture. Work experience also shows that you’re a hard
worker and that you’re good at multitasking as you
found the time to work and study simultaneously.

TRY READING:
Key Skills Gained from Work Experience

12. You stay healthy

When we don’t have a set routine, we often fall into a
lazy rut and lose the motivation to get up and going in
the morning. Working a part-time job, though, helps
you stay active and, as a result, healthy.

It’s also good for your mental psyche. Writing for the
Daily Mail, Naomi Coleman describes the act of
bonding with colleagues as ‘social grooming’, which
releases natural feel-good hormones such as endorphins
and serotonin and keeps depression at bay.

Final thoughts
Working while studying has its advantages, but if you
feel that the cons outweigh the pros, then you should
consider discussing your hours with your manager or
looking for an alternative part-time job. Once you find
the right balance, you’ll reap the benefits of working as
a student for years to come.

Further student advice and tips:

Business Ideas for Students
Best Extracurriculars for Students
Free College Textbook Websites

Are you juggling study with a part-time job? Let us

know in the comments section below.

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally

published on 5 February 2015.

Topics:

Work Experience

Student Life

Finding a Job

Joanna Zambas

Joanna Zambas

Content Manager and Career Expert

Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017,

and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over
time. In between heading our CV writing services and
orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the
time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and
thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR,
recruitment, social media, job search strategies and
more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in
journalism, and previously worked within a variety of
fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and
entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and
enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
More from Joanna Zambas
Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017,
and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over
time. In between heading our CV writing services and
orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the
time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and
thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR,
recruitment, social media, job search strategies and
more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in
journalism, and previously worked within a variety of
fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and
entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and
enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
More from Joanna Zambas

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