Making the most of your part-time job
Why professional behaviour in your part-time job counts – big time!
You’ve finished school and begun the next step of your life journey, be it studying full or part-time, or perhaps taking a gap year. Maybe you’re even looking for a full-time job and it’s taking longer than you thought. Either way, you have time to spare and too little (if any) money coming in – what should you do?
Google is a great help when researching part-time or student jobs. There are many options available, depending on your skills and interests. If you are outgoing and sociable, you might consider a job in promotions, as a waiter, or in retail. If you like teaching others and are confident in your ability to do so, you might consider tutoring, and if you like caring for children, au-pairing may be an option for you.
Regardless of which option you choose, it’s important for you to take your part time job seriously.
Here’s why:
- It is a chance to gain valuable work experience. Even if it is not in the field of your studies and
future career aspirations, it’s still valuable. This is important for you to start building your CV and to set you apart from your peers with nothing on their CVs.
- Gaining work experience will give you references for your CV. This is important when you start applying for jobs. You can only get good references for your CV if you have displayed professional behaviour in your part time job. You need to impress your employer, from being polite and professional when addressing them, to carrying out your tasks on time and to the best of your abilities. If you are always late, unreliable, don’t follow company policies and aren’t committed to your responsibilities, you cannot expect to get a good reference letter.
- Part time work teaches you valuable life skills necessary for survival in the adult world. Time management, commitment, reliability, speaking to different types of people and teamwork are just a few of these skills.
- In addition to life skills, you will develop job skills like following instructions, administrative processes and practical aspects of the type of work you’re doing.
- Personal growth will happen if you have the right attitude towards your job. You will grow in confidence (after all, someone had enough confidence in you to hire you, even without experience) and grow in your ability to relate to other people.
Having a part time job builds character.
Your part time job might have an impact on other people’s lives: for instance, a committed and engaging tutor can help someone achieve their goals, while an unreliable tutor can negatively impact someone’s academic future. When your actions have an impact on the future of someone else, it becomes especially important to be committed and reliable.
Your part time job might just be a source of income to you, but it can be so much more. If you work hard, engage in your job and commit to doing your best, even a part time job can have a far-reaching impact on your future, and even on the lives of others.
Find out why tutoring is the best part time job, or apply to be a tutor!
Written by Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer