VALUE OF PART-TIME WORK
EVERYONE knows the tale of the impoverished student at university.
Higher education is expensive, more so in a foreign country. You track exchange rates like you are playing the stock market.
Every chance to save money becomes paramount. The calculator app on your phone is used to keep track of every expenditure. But if there is one thing better than saving money, it’s making money and becoming financial stable.
Despite most students being over the age of 18 when they enter the world of higher education, many see themselves as adult-sized teenagers. After all, some students have never held a paying job so far. Getting a job while studying adds considerably more responsibilities to an already hectic schedule of daily classes but it can really shape students up to take their duties more seriously. Missing a few classes may not have an effect on one’s grades as much so there are no consequences to be felt. But go in to work half an hour late and you get your pay docked. Miss a shift and you won’t get paid, and you are behind on your monthly rent. It is one of those hard lessons best learnt early in life.
The management of newfound wealth is another responsibility which results from work. A steady disposable income makes it tempting to quickly spend it. And while you should treat yourself once in a while, the hard work you had to put in to earn money and the ease in spending it should be another wake-up call.
Money is not easy to come by. Saving up for emergencies is crucial. For example, if you are responsible with a few hundred American dollars, which easily hit the thousand ringgit range for Malaysians, you can bring this mindset of saving money into a future when you make more income. Think of earning more as being able to save more, not spend more.This is not to say that you should not pamper yourself once in a while. Absolutely put aside funds monthly to be used only for fun as this is part of stress management.
You don’t have to go overboard but treating yourself within your means will help you not only to appreciate the value of your work, but it will also motivate you to work harder and find better work in the future so you can continue to enjoy creature comforts.
Perhaps the more obvious reason to take up a part-time job as a student is to expose yourself to the workplace. Navigating office politics can go a long way in ensuring a pleasant work environment. Overtime, you learn to deal with the quirks of co-workers and bosses. Those in the hospitality industry learn to deal with a variety of people every day as well. It teaches patience and adapting to deal with different problems.
And every time you handle a problematic customer, you get that much better at dealing with people in general.
You also learn to talk to bosses and negotiate taking a day off and asking for a promotion. You are not always going to work with colleagues you like, or even colleagues who like you. You do not have to like colleagues but you do have to understand how not to cause trouble for yourself without being able to wiggle your way out of it.
Future employers appreciate that you have some work experience even if unrelated to your field as it shows that you are able to take on responsibilities.
Having money does not mean someone is happy of course, but it can help with managing stress as long as you’re responsible with money. For most of us, higher studies is a way to get better prospects after all and it is right that you will want to reward yourself too.
And you absolutely should.
You are not always going to work with colleagues you like, or even colleagues who like you.