Why is it a good idea to get a job while you are still studying?

• Getting a job, whatever type of job, even if it is part time or only a Saturday or weekend job will give you essential work experience. This will help when writing your resume, when going for an interview and will also improve your understanding of the work environment.

• You will gain many transferable skills that you will be able to use in future jobs. Even if your work seems unrelated to your chosen career, there are many work skills that are common to all jobs. These skills include team work, taking responsibilities, customer relations, keeping track of yours and other's work, presentation skills, telephone manners, writing and/ or reporting skills, secretarial skills and computer skills to name just a few.

• The skills you gain will help you to impress future employers who are generally all looking for people who have experience. It is especially advantageous if you find part time work in your chosen career area. Even if you don't, you can stress the transferable skills you learnt.

• Gaining experience in the work environment will boost your confidence both on a personal level and in the way you express yourself.

• Your spoken English and/or Hindi will definitely benefit from practice and you will also gain new skills by using these in the work environment.

• Working will help you to assess which skills you have, what type of work you enjoy doing, what type of people you like to work with, how much responsibility you can take. It helps you to be realistic and define your skills and ambitions – often people find they have skills they never knew they had! And you can then add these to your resume.

• Working helps you to determine what you do and don't want in a job so you can look in the right direction when you apply for a full time job at the end of your studies.

• Working can also be very enjoyable: it's a new challenge, an opportunity to put your skills and abilities to the test and to apply all that you have learnt during your studies and your life, furthermore you get paid for it! Other than all the practical things, you will also meet new people and make new friends. Working with different people will also widen your horizons.

• Some part time jobs may also lead onto full time jobs and a career in the company.  Most companies prefer to employ people who already have appropriate training rather than somebody who they have to train from scratch. So even if you do part time volunteer work this is a most valuable experience. 

What type of job should I choose?

• Try to find a part time or holiday job that is not going to clash with your studies, they are still the most important!

• If possible look for something related to your studies or future career this will help you in getting a job later on.

• Paid or unpaid? This depends on your needs. If you do not need the extra cash, then volunteer work may well give you more flexibility to work in an area of your own interest, more closely related to your studies and future career. Many organizations are looking for people to help in the everyday running of their offices.

• Unless you enjoy long bus journeys, choose somewhere not too far from your home or your university. Commuting can make work much more tiring.