Well? Can they? Or more specifically; can you, as a student, balance work and school?
Yes. You can. It may seem overwhelming. Coming to college and not knowing a lot of people, you are already balancing a lot of stressors. How are you supposed to confidently balance a job?
Know Yourself
The overall answer here is up to you. If it would be way too much for you to handle, then don’t. If you have time and know you can take extra expectations, then go for it! When I came into Hope I didn’t get a job my Freshman year. I knew that I couldn’t take the extra stress. But I know plenty of people who got jobs right when the applications opened, whether on campus or off-campus.
College can be stressful. There are a lot of expectations placed on students. You have to work hard and learn to manage your time. But don’t let it get you down. It’s entirely manageable and you can do so in ways that allow you to still enjoy campus life! A job during college also allows you to meet more people than just those in your classes.
Communicate
Communication is key. What an overused statement, but it’s an important one. Your bosses understand that they are hiring a college student. Things are going to come up that you cannot miss; meetings for classes, required events for credit, family emergencies. You need to make sure that you communicate these things.
If you have notice of an event or meeting you are required to attend, then let your boss know as soon as possible. This will allow you to work with your boss easier and show them that you know how to manage your time. The benefit of on-campus jobs is that they are typically more than accommodating when it comes to extracurriculars or classroom requirements.
I have had several required events come up where I needed to miss work in order to get credit for a class. I simply sent my boss an email, or even stopped into their office, and we worked out my schedule and appointments. When it comes to a school-work balance, communication is key to preventing a stressful situation.
Balance
Keep a healthy balance of time for homework, time for work, and time to relax. Yes. Relax. As a college student you need time to breathe and process everything at your own pace. Don’t overwork yourself because “you need the money” or “you need the experience”. Yes, both of those are fair, but not worth your sanity. Trust me.
If you get a job on campus, or off campus, don’t get rid of a social life. But don’t forget to get things done. It’s a strange but stable balance that is very healthy.
If you are interested in an on campus job check out Human Resources for all the opportunities you can apply for!