Getting a part-time job as a student can be very helpful if done properly. There are many different factors to weigh up, especially if you have specific academic and financial targets. You need to consider how many hours you must work in order to get the money you need, while keeping good grades a priority. This is a short guide to what you need to know about balancing a part-time job while studying. 

Flexibility is important

Firstly, try and get a job that will allow you to be flexible and doesn’t require too much of your time. A job which requires more than 20 hours a week might not be realistically possible for you to maintain while still being on top of your studies. Additionally, you might need to change your availability at short notice, so you might prefer something that does not have a fixed contract and obliges you to a certain amount of hours per week. 

Working for agencies is ideal for students. Many agencies love to hire students for their flexibility and this in turn works perfectly, because you might need to cancel or reschedule work with little notice depending on study constraints or other commitments. Agencies hire in lots of different industries such as in luxury retail, events and hospitality. The nature of this work is not the most stable, so it shouldn’t be relied on. However, if you need something more flexible because of your schedule and study needs, a job in an agency is perfect for you.

The benefits of working for an agency are of course varied. Apart from the flexibility, you can benefit from being hired quickly at a good rate. Agencies also often offer pay that is more regular than your normal job. Many people at agencies are paid either weekly or fortnightly which is helpful if you need money quickly. In terms of part-time jobs, this is a line of work that is highly favourable for students who need quick money. 

Utilise your holidays

Universities are famous for having short terms and very long holidays. It’s a good idea to utilise the holidays for work if you don’t have any significant plans over the different breaks. During these holidays, companies look for seasonal workers due to the higher traffic they see from their customers. Students are perfect candidates for such roles as the term dates usually coincide perfectly with the demand for workers. 

Considering a seasonal job whether it’s in retail or another industry, such as at a warehouse, might just be one of the best decisions you make when it comes to part-time jobs. They generally pay quite well and during the time, you might also be able to benefit from employee discounts to help you save money even more. 

Use your knowledge to your advantage 

Students have a lot of knowledge that can be disposable to certain part-time jobs. Tutoring and proofreading jobs work excellently as they usually don’t require you to gain much more know-how than you already have. You can most likely use your A-level or GCSE knowledge to tutor younger kids whose position you were once in. You will definitely feel a sense of satisfaction having helped students along, as well as getting some well-earned money along the way. 

These tutoring sessions usually take place in the evenings due to school hours, so they are great, as they don’t require you to set aside a whole day. You can work for companies, such as Kumon and Explore Learning, who are reputable for offering great training and job opportunities for young people looking to get into tutoring. 

In general as a rule of thumb, you should consider your own personal circumstances and see how feasible it is to get a part-time job, depending on your year of study, financial needs and other commitments. If you decide it’s for you, these tips will definitely come in handy when you’re looking to secure that job.