Originally Posted by Jake

Hey guys,

Would working part-time (i.e. Friday, Saturday, Sunday) affect your grades?

Thanks!

I remember being told over and over when I started university "Do NOT get a job in first year unless you absolutely NEED to"

But I did anyway. I quit after a month and a half. My grades were slightly affected - but it was more about time. It's a big adjustment from highschool to university and working part time makes it more difficult. If you can, I would suggest not working during first year (especially first term).

If you're looking for experience, I would suggest volunteering on campus or around your home. Volunteer is usually less strict about when you come and go and how many hours you spend there, so it might be a little easier. Plus, it's probably a million times easier to get a volunteering gig that relates directly to your school work/future career than a part time job that does.

In my experience, no one is hot for volunteering experience. Employers love work experience though, so it's better to get your foot in the door as soon as you can.

However, I would never suggest working in first year. I had friends who did, and it affected them waaay too much. After first year, you've transitioned, you know what your study habits are, and you can handle it.

Originally Posted by feonateresa

In my experience, no one is hot for volunteering experience

It really depends on what the job is. If you've volunteered in a lab for a professor working on research that one day you plan on working on, it's very very good for your resume and your job prospects.

The same goes for student leadership positions. For example, getting elected to your faculty society or into student government is very good experience for showing leadership qualities, management practice, organizational skills, etc. These jobs are generally unpaid, and so count as volunteer work.

I think that volunteer work is VERY highly valued by employers! . It can tell the employer a great deal about the person, and can give the person a tremendous amount of experience (in a plethora of ways)

Originally Posted by daisy

I think that volunteer work is VERY highly valued by employers! . It can tell the employer a great deal about the person, and can give the person a tremendous amount of experience (in a plethora of ways)

You're absolutely right; it never hurts to have anything on your side and that includes having a good history of volunteering.

Originally Posted by feonateresa

In my experience, no one is hot for volunteering experience. Employers love work experience though, so it's better to get your foot in the door as soon as you can.

However, I would never suggest working in first year. I had friends who did, and it affected them waaay too much. After first year, you've transitioned, you know what your study habits are, and you can handle it.

Really? My experience is different from that. Say I was applying for a Political Science job - I've found that an employer will be more impressed if I have volunteered with my local MP during a voting period than if I worked at Blockbuster Video, you know what I mean?

All I ever hear from anyone is that volunteering is good experience. I have three jobs on my resume (from my university summers), but I have volunteer experience at about 10 different places and it really beefs up my resume.

Originally Posted by feonateresa

In my experience, no one is hot for volunteering experience. Employers love work experience though, so it's better to get your foot in the door as soon as you can.

Some graduate schools unofficially require volunteering experience. It depends on how relevant the work and volunteering experience is. Also, you don't have to work during school to get valuable work experience. I prefer working during the summer. :p

Right now, although it seems that you will be working only a few hours a week, that's not really the case. The trouble with work is the fatigue afterwards, and it will really take away from your studies. Most feel tired/disordered, unable to focus after a long night's work, but on top of that, the fatigue will just build. I wouldn't recommend working during school, unless you're going to do like one day/week.

Originally Posted by macsci

Right now, although it seems that you will be working only a few hours a week, that's not really the case. The trouble with work is the fatigue afterwards, and it will really take away from your studies. Most feel tired/disordered, unable to focus after a long night's work, but on top of that, the fatigue will just build. I wouldn't recommend working during school, unless you're going to do like one day/week.

Although I suppose everyone's different, I have to say that this is ridiculous. I work during the school year 20-25 hours per week. I have to work this in order to pay my rent and buy food, but even if I didn't, I still would work because I need to be busy in order to stay focused.

As for the fatigue, again it depends on what you do. However, most students don't really work at jobs which are extremely physically demanding during the school year (I'm thinking factory work, warehouse work, landscaping, etc). Students generally work in grocery stores, restaurants, retail, etc. Fatigue is a non-issue. It's possible to work 31 hours per week fairly easily, and you'd be surprised how many people do it (5 3-hours shifts mon-fri, 2 8-hour shifts sat+sun).

I'll conclude with this: most students work. That's a fact. It may be only 3 or 5 hours per week, but most students have some kind of a job. I wouldn't recommend getting a job in first-year, but after that its fair game.

Originally Posted by macsci

Right now, although it seems that you will be working only a few hours a week, that's not really the case. The trouble with work is the fatigue afterwards, and it will really take away from your studies. Most feel tired/disordered, unable to focus after a long night's work, but on top of that, the fatigue will just build. I wouldn't recommend working during school, unless you're going to do like one day/week.

I get what you're saying. When I started working in first year, it was fun and great. My problem was that, after work, I didn't feel like doing anything. I just wanted to sleep or watch TV and relax. All of my energy was put into work, because I had to do it so much, and I didn't focus as much on homework. Even if it wasn't physically tiring work, I still just wanted to do nothing when I get home.

I like not working during the school year. When I go home at the end of the day or on the weekend, I think "Okay, I have this assignment and this assignment due, and I need to get these readings done".
When I worked, I always had to think "I work tonight and Saturday morning.. ugh and I have to do these assignments plus reading plus more work on Sunday"

I don't know - it depends on the person. I really hate working and I love school. Some people enjoy work, or they have time at their work to do homework. It's up to each person. I would definately not recommend anyone work first year though (unless they absolutely have to)

Originally Posted by tauntobr

It's possible to work 31 hours per week fairly easily, and you'd be surprised how many people do it (5 3-hours shifts mon-fri, 2 8-hour shifts sat+sun).

I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'm curious, when would you get homework and readings done? If you worked 3 hours a day during the week and 8 hours on weekends, that only leaves a few hours per day. Does that kind of schedule leave relaxing time and social life time?

There are specific jobs that do require volunteering, but I'm talking about the like basic part-time jobs at like Fortinos or Subway or something like that.

Originally Posted by HeatherH

I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'm curious, when would you get homework and readings done? If you worked 3 hours a day during the week and 8 hours on weekends, that only leaves a few hours per day. Does that kind of schedule leave relaxing time and social life time?

Personally, I don't work that much. 30 hours of work is on the extreme. Night classes open up a lot of time during the day however, so those allow time for schoolwork or pushing shifts earlier into the day.

The program also matters. In science, we generally don't have readings for example.

I do know people who have to work 30 hours per week to survive though, so it can be done.

It can be done, but unless you're someone who's really driven, I wouldn't recommend, that's all I'm saying.

Originally Posted by macsci

Right now, although it seems that you will be working only a few hours a week, that's not really the case. The trouble with work is the fatigue afterwards, and it will really take away from your studies. Most feel tired/disordered, unable to focus after a long night's work, but on top of that, the fatigue will just build. I wouldn't recommend working during school, unless you're going to do like one day/week.

I think that this is an extremely valid point for some people, and that it drives home the fact that a person has to really think about their own style of learning, socialising, resting, recharging, etc. Some people thrive on and recharge by being busy and being with others, and other people need time alone, in the quiet to recharge and function at their peak performance. You sound like you have figured this out for yourself -- how fortunate you are, as it can take people a very long time to figure it out!