It was once the norm for parents to drag their teenagers out of bed on a Saturday morning to get them up and out for their Saturday job. Sleepy-eyed youngsters would wobble around on their bikes as they delivered local papers, or throw back a coffee to get them going while pulling on their fast-food uniform for the day.
However, it seems that more teenagers are getting a lie-in on Saturdays now, with fewer youngsters working at weekends than in the past. A new report has suggested that fewer young people are taking on Saturday jobs than ever before, with the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who work while they study halving since 1996.
Working at weekends can sometime feel like a bit of a pain, but we’ve dug out the top five reasons for you to stick with working part-time while you study.
Part-time work can open doors
You may be beavering away to finish your diploma or degree without realising that your part-time job is what you’re truly good at. It’s sometimes happens that students actually stick with their Saturday role that they thought was just a wee job in a shop, and end up flourishing in a retail career in the long run.
It’s good to have some extra cash flow
It’s so often the case that students leave college or uni with barely a penny to their name, and realise that they need work desperately to pay bills, rent and, eventually, their student loan back. A part-time job is great to stick with, both to help you pay for the essentials while you study, and to save up after you graduate if you’d like a deserved treat like a holiday. It’s also good to have a safety net of paid work to stick with once you’re done with you studies.
Good for your CV
Regardless of what type of part-time work you do, it’ll boost your CV. You’ll also be able to show employers that you managed the responsibilities of both college or uni work and were able to hold down a job at the same time.
It gives you the upper hand when applying for jobs
When a load of students graduate all at the same time, the competition for jobs – particularly ones in a specific area of study – is usually extremely fierce. Having paid jobs on your CV will give you the edge over graduates who have the same qualifications as you, even if they’ve got slightly better grades.
Working strengthens your confidence
Part-time work is useful for enhancing your social skills, particularly when studying can feel quite isolating. If you’re working with the public in your part-time role, they may do your head in at times, but you’ll find yourself more confident when putting yourself out there after you graduate.
For tips on applying for work, visit: www.gov.uk/browse/working/finding-job
