The Pros and Cons of Working While Studying

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The Pros and Consof WorkingWhile Studying
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The Pros and Consof Working While Studying

• One 2021 report shows that 66 of the UK students
  surveyed had part-time jobs. If this seems like a
  high number, note that this has actually
  decreased because of the pandemic. Previously,
  74 of those surveyed claimed to be working
  part-time. Some even have full-time or multiple
  part-time jobs.
• If you havent made the big decision and wonder
  which path is the right way forward, use this
  article to guide you. We will discuss the pros
  and cons of working while studying at university
  and whether its possible to hold down a job
  while pursuing your education.

• Paying for college or university can be daunting,
  and many students turn tofull-time or part-time
  jobs to make ends meet. Others work while
  studying to gain experience in their fields or
  simply add to their resumes. There are many
  reasons why students work while studying at
  university, but one thing is for certain
  juggling working and studying is no easy feat. It
  involves a lot of planning, organisation, and
  time management.

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Pros of WorkingWhile Studying

• In addition to helping them supplement their
  income, working part-time while pursuing an
  education can help students gain work experience
  and learn more about responsibility. Here are
  some of the advantages you can gain by working
  while studying at university.

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Earning an Income

• The most obvious advantage of working is earning
  an income. Whether you work a few hours a week or
  have a more intensive job, you have a steady
  income to supplement financial aid, scholarships,
  or parental help. While some may use
  theirhard-earned money to help with rent or
  living expenses, others can save money, travel,
  or avail other services.

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Gain ImportantWork Skills

• In addition to experience, working while studying
  allows students to gain essential skills that
  will be useful once they enter the labour market.
  Some of these skills include balancing different
  responsibilities, following directions, and
  working with others. These skills are valued by
  future employers.

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Time Management Skills

• Another vital skill that working students master
  is time management. No matter which industry you
  go into, time management is an essential soft
  skill that will help you throughout your career.
  Because studying while working forces students to
  prioritise both and juggle different
  responsibilities, it teaches them how to manage
  their time effectively. By planning ahead and
  being organised, these students learn one of the
  most important skills out there.

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ExpandingYour Network

• One of the most important reasons students choose
  to work while studying at university is to expand
  their network. While its important to expand
  your social network, its also important to
  branch out professionally. Working students have
  the opportunity to do this and can start making
  connections and take advantage of networking
  opportunities at their jobs. Whether its
  co-workers, guests, or managers, expanding your
  network is an integral part of availing new
  opportunities.

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Earn More in the Future

• In addition to gaining skills, those who work
  while studying may also earn more in the future.
  A Rutgers Education and Employment Research
  Center paper showed that students who earned the
  most when attending school also reaped the
  rewards later. According to the study, this was
  because of their skill acquisition, signalling
  (from work experience), and the social networks
  they built from acquiring references and making
  connections.

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Valuable Work Experience
Even if they dont need to work while studying,
many choose to because of the valuable work
experience they gain. Many students have limited
work experience and have to wait until their
final year to take advantage of work placements,
if available. Students who work while studying
can build up their resumes and gain real-life
experience. This is especially important if they
can gain experience in the field theyre
interested in since they can apply academic
knowledge to real-world circumstances. This
practical application will be valuable in future
jobs as well. That being said, work experience is
valuable even if its not related to the
students field. No matter the job, theyll still
have real-life experience and benefit from the
transferable skills accompanying it.
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Working while studying has many advantages.
However, there are some cons associated with it.
In order to make an informed decision, you should
be aware of the downsides of being a working
student.
Cons of Working While Studying
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Less Time for Studies

• Because youll be devoting some of your time to
  your job, youll have less time to study. This
  can be especially tough for students with higher
  workloads or demanding degrees, who are sometimes
  already stretched thin. If you dont devote
  enough time to your studies, your grades may
  suffer.

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Less Recreational Activities

• Because youll have to devote the time you have
  left to your studies, this will affect your
  social and personal life as well. The time you
  would have otherwise spent free will now be spent
  either working or studying. Because of this, you
  may not be able to enjoy your hobbies, spend as
  much time with your friends, or be able to
  participate in extracurricular activities or
  student clubs.

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Stress and Burnout

• If theres already too much on your plate, and
  you add working while studying on top of it, you
  may end up overly stressed. Chronic stress is
  extremely serious and can lead to burnout.
  University can already be a very stressful
  experience, and adding further stress can harm
  your mental health. If you do reach a critical
  point, you may not be able to work or study
  effectively and may even have to quit your job.

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Conclusion
So, given all youve read, should you work while
studying at university? While there are many
advantages and opportunities associated with
working while studying, there are some cons to it
as well. If youre able to be organized and find
a balance between education and work, working
while studying may be a fantastic idea. On the
other hand, if you cant juggle two major
responsibilities and your education will suffer
due to working, its better to focus on your
studies. Ultimately, whether or not you work
while studying is an individual choice that must
be made with all these factors in mind. We hope
this article helped you in your decision.
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