Career Advice

Five tips for managing work and study

It doesn’t sound too difficult, but (unless you’re prepared in advance) juggling your work life and student life can be a little bit tricky.

Eleanor Foulds
by Eleanor Foulds
Last Updated:
27 Feb 2024

Working while studying is very common, with many students working part-time jobs to help fund their studies and socialising. So, if you think you might struggle, take a look at our tips to help yourself achieve the perfect balance.

1. Prioritise


When you get your first pay packet and you see all of that lovely money coming in to your account, it is very easy to lose sight of your priorities. It's vital that you put your academic work first before earning money, as you don’t want your employment to have a negative impact upon your studies – and your entire future. Yes, the money is useful, but if you’ve an assignment to finish or an exam to cram for, then that should be your main focus.

We don’t mean to sound like your parents – but you’ll thank us in the long run!

2. Type of work


Before applying to a job, you should consider the type of work you’re applying to. Does it match your personality, and will it fit around your studies? You may want to look for jobs that only want evening or weekend staff so you can be sure it'll fit around your class schedule.

3. Time management


When you have a part-time job and studies to complete, it's important that you're time efficient. Fortunately, most jobs will give you your hours a week or two in advance, so pop these in a diary and then see how much school or uni work you have to do for that week. Make sure you forward plan and make a timetable to arrange your study time. This will help you to continue with your employment while ensuring that you never miss any of your deadlines.

4. Flexibility


There will be times throughout your uni life where you have more work, and other times when you have less. During the quieter times, you'll be in a position to work more shifts, which can be beneficial to you. Not only will you earn extra cash, but if you cover for staff off sick, you can always negotiate to work less hours during busy exam periods. 

5. The one day rule


Each week you should take an entire 24 hours off to unwind. After all, the last thing you want is to be overworked. Whether you catch up with friends, or spend the entire day in front of the TV watching old episodes of Scrubs and eating Ben and Jerry’s, there's no doubt that a day of chilling out will leave you feeling rejuvenated for the next week.

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