Work + Uni - your experiences in juggling these two.

[kakar0t]

Hey guys!

I'm definately going to find some work during uni, i was wondering if people who work + study at uni can shed some of their personal experiences, the dos and the don'ts

Thanks

[kakar0t]

Excerpts from irc (with permission of Truelight):

[00:10] <kakar0t> but i live close to clayton yeah
[00:11] <TrueLight> live with parents?
[00:11] <kakar0t> yeah man... i just finished yr12 lol
[00:11] <TrueLight> ok
[00:11] <TrueLight> so
[00:11] <TrueLight> ur not really going to struggle
[00:11] <TrueLight> without a job
[00:11] <TrueLight> but a job is always good
[00:11] <TrueLight> get extra money
[00:12] <TrueLight> and buy stuff
[00:12] <TrueLight> like xbox games
[00:12] <TrueLight> lol
[00:12] <kakar0t> yeah thats my main concern, disposable income
[00:12] <TrueLight> mm
[00:12] <TrueLight> it could get expensive
[00:12] <TrueLight> like
[00:12] <TrueLight> all the food
[00:12] <TrueLight> at uni

[00:12] <kakar0t> mmm, do you recommend packing food from home?
[00:12] <TrueLight> well
[00:12] <TrueLight> u could
[00:13] <TrueLight> although
[00:13] <TrueLight> i always liked takeaway from uni
[00:13] <TrueLight> lol
[00:13] <TrueLight> i would only pack food
[00:13] <TrueLight> for me that is...
[00:13] <TrueLight> if
[00:13] <TrueLight> you dont have breaks
[00:13] <TrueLight> so if ur timetable is like one after the other
[00:13] <TrueLight> and u have to run around everywhere
[00:14] <TrueLight> no time to go eat
[00:14] <TrueLight> just take a sandiwch

[rustic_metal]

You'll be fine. Just make sure you don't get regular shifts on whichever nights your uni crowd like to go out.

[Fyrefly]

Juggling one part-time job with uni is more than doable, especially given you live close to Clayton.

Given you have very low travel time, I would suggest to could manage up to 20h/week work comfortably. So long as you're good with time management, it shouldn't impact on your studies or social life.

[ninwa]

Most uni students have part-time jobs.

I would suggest limiting it to about 16-18 hours a week (roughly two full-time days) if you are doing 4 subjects a semester. Perhaps around 25 max if you are doing 3. Even more if you are planning on part-time.

- start with less hours at the beginning of the year (less than 10/week) as you will need time to adjust to the dynamics, workload etc. of university life. Also if you're working all the time you miss out on the chance to make new friends
- make sure your employer knows you are a full time student and check that he/she is relatively flexible. Nothing worse than coming to the end of the semester and having to choose between missing a precious day of exam revision or losing your job

[Fyrefly]

Most uni students have part-time jobs.

I would suggest limiting it to about 16-18 hours a week (roughly two full-time days) if you are doing 4 subjects a semester. Perhaps around 25 max if you are doing 3. Even more if you are planning on part-time.

- start with less hours at the beginning of the year (less than 10/week) as you will need time to adjust to the dynamics, workload etc. of university life. Also if you're working all the time you miss out on the chance to make new friends
- make sure your employer knows you are a full time student and check that he/she is relatively flexible. Nothing worse than coming to the end of the semester and having to choose between missing a precious day of exam revision or losing your job

Ninwa's advice is excellent, especially in regards to starting off slow while you get used to the demands (or lack thereof) of uni life.

[Fyrefly]

Also, just if you want some idea of the limits of what *is* possible:

I have two part-time jobs. Between work and uni, I do 7 days a week. I live on the other side of the city, so I deal with about 8 hours travel time to/from uni every week. I'm studying 75% load (3 subjects a semester instead of 4), just so I can pull it off without failing. I don't have as much time as I really need to study, so I'm managing a distinction average at the moment. I succeed at having a social life, but I probably only go out with friends every second or third week (though I do spend plenty of time with friends at uni). I also have a good exercise regime.

Coming from someone who knows how to put in the hard yards, I can safely say you'll be able to manage a "pocket money" job quite easily... all you're after is enough hours for a bit of disposable income. Maintaining such a full-on schedule like mine is very demanding, and not something I recommend someone try to keep up indefinitely. The only reason I've been doing this for the last three years is so I can save up enough money for student exchange next year. I'm working 7 days a week at the moment (and close to full-time hours) simply for one last boost to my savings before I head off. I'm so over it all, and the only reason I'm still doing it is because I know that as soon as I've decided I've completely and absolutely had enough, I can hand in my resignation and walk away.