Study before work

PART-TIME work is often a lifeline for cashstrapped students but one expert is urging young people not to let their job interfere with studies.

School psychologist Dr Lucinda Clifford says combining work and study can develop employability skills that are likely to be vital after graduation. However, students who miss lectures and tutorials to take on extra shifts at work will be left disadvantaged in the long run.

“Skipping class to work in a casual job may seem like a good idea at the time but unless students plan on pursuing their casual jobs, it isn’t worth it,’’ Dr Clifford says.

“Yes, it can be really beneficial to be working while studying — and for some students, they have to work to be able to afford their lifestyle — but always remember your long-term career path, and why you are at uni in the first place.’’

Dr Clifford believes school leavers are at risk of overcommitting to work as they adjust to the flexibility of tertiary study timetables and often underestimate the amount of non-contact study required.

“Sometimes there’s even a tendency for people to select subjects at times that fit in around their work hours,’’ she says. “But your (subject) decisions shouldn’t be based on (work commitments) — you need to remember the bigger picture.’’

Subjects should be chosen based on long-term career goals. The key to successfully combining work and study is to be upfront with your employer about study commitments and the days and times you will be required to be on campus and not available to work, Dr Clifford says.

She says students need skills in assertiveness to have the confidence to decline work shifts that interfere with study schedules or extra shifts that may cause students to ignore self-care and lead to burnout.

If there is no option but to miss a class to work, such as at times when finances might be exceptionally tight, online lectures and tutorials are often available, but Clifford warns against relying on these lessons on a regular basis.

“[Attending classes on campus] will be much more engaging than watching and listening to things on a computer, where you might be [distracted by] things on your phone or you might have emails popping up on your screen,’’ she says.

“Actually sitting in the lecture, or in the tutorial, is just a far better learning environment.’’