4 Convincing Reasons for Working Your Way Through College
As you finish your college degree, you might decide to postpone getting a job until after you've graduated. This way, you can focus entirely on your education.
But even if your parents don't require you to get a job, working your way through college has its benefits.
You Can Earn Money to Pay Down Student Debt
If you're attending school with the help of a federal student loan, repayment of this loan isn't required until after you graduate. This can certainly ease some of your financial stress while attending school.
But once you graduate and begin work, you will incur new expenses. And since your starting salary might not be anything to get excited about, the less debt you owe after graduation the better. For this matter, you might consider getting a part-time job and working your way through college.
The money earned working through college can help pay off any credit card debt you have before graduation. Additionally, you can start paying down your student loan debt while still in school.
You Can Learn Time Management Skills
Good time management skills can take you far throughout your career. And if you can juggle multiple assignments with ease, you're an asset to your employer.
After starting your career, you'll quickly discover that you can't afford to spend too much time on a single task. This is where good time management comes into play - a skill you can learn by getting a job and working your way through college.
As a working college student, you'll have a lot on your plate. Between classes, work and studying, you'll need to prioritize your schedule and manage your time efficiently. If you can master the art of time management while in college, it'll be easier to transition into the workforce after graduation.
You Can Learn How to Deal with Coworkers
The workplace dynamic can be extremely high school-ish at times. Yes, you may work alongside professional people. But professional or not, these people will have their own idiosyncrasies. And you might have to deal with gossipers, cliques and back stabbers.
If your first real work experience doesn't occur until after you've graduated college, you might be ill-prepared to handle these types of people in the workplace.
Settling into a new job right after college is hard enough. If you walk into a company with your guard down and rose-colored glasses, you might be in for a rude-awakening.
Not that you can't have positive relationships with your coworkers. Just know that some people aren't going to have your back.
The truth is, getting a job and working your way through college can toughen your skin and help you develop skills needed to deal with different people. This includes demanding customers, an unappreciative boss and annoying coworkers.
You Can Gain Work Experience
If you apply for your first job after college with no prior work experience, an employer might hesitate hiring you. Even with the right education under your belt, the employer may question whether you're a team player, a problem-solver or a hard worker.
However, working a few hours a week while in college might provide enough work history to satisfy future employers. At the end of the day, future employers need to speak with someone who can vouch for your work ethic--hence the value of working your way through college.
