How do I manage my college and work the best?
I’m a full time student (16credz) , I am looking to get a job but worried I won’t be able to handle the two. Any suggestions ? #work #jobs #social-work
3 answers
Chelsey’s Answer
Hi Alpha,
Working full time and going to school full time is a balancing act - I know from experience! Though this is difficult and requires great time management, your dedication and commitment to excelling at both will prepare you for your full time career and really enhance your work ethic.
What worked for me is finding a job that you are passionate about or enjoy! I worked at a clothing store during college and enjoyed meeting customers and becoming friends with my coworkers. The discount was awesome as well!
Stick to a schedule and make time to study. This is very important. Though studying or completing homework may be the last thing you want to do after working, this is a priority and you need to map out time for this. Set your schedule at the beginning of the week and try your best to stick to it.
I worked full time to pay my way through school, and I knew that I was not going to slack off during class or on school work because of how hard I was working to make it happen. Stay driven, set goals, and know that it will pay off.
Ben’s Answer
Hi Alpha,
I was able to manage both school and a job by doing the following:
- Planning out my week through a schedule
- Not overloading on one or the other
- Making sure not to work or study too late
- Getting a good night rest
- Working a job and or taking classes you are really interested in. This makes it mentally less strenuous.
Ken’s Answer
The first step is to determine that you are on the right career track, as this will give more meaning to your work and make it easier to balance everything as you have a focus. I will give you tips on that and on balancing your life during your education/career journey and after that have helped many from the experiences of those who have done it.
Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .
Ken recommends the following next steps: