Working while studying has been a trend for a while now. Students in Leeds and other top study destinations work as part-time employees to pay their bills and add that work experience to their resume. However, managing work and studies is a challenging task, especially for students with no work experience. Today, we will discuss some easy tips that will surely help international students manage work and studies in Leeds and other cities.
Why Students Work While Studying?
One of the biggest challenges faced by most of the international students in Leeds is managing the cost of living. Students in Leeds often overwork to pay their bills resulting in physical and mental fatigue.
International students enrolled in a full-time course in the UK are allowed to work for up to 20 hours/ week. This sounds exciting in the beginning as it allows students to explore work opportunities while pursuing their degree, build networks, and earn money to meet ends. However, the reality is often the opposite. Combining work and studies is surely rewarding but it requires careful planning and disciplined time management to avoid compromising academic performance.
7 Tips to Manage Work and Studies in Leeds
This section will discuss some of the most effective tips to balance work and studies in Leeds. Timely implementation of these strategies will help students with their academic and professional lives.
Search Flexible Part-time Work
The first step to balancing work and study is to search for a flexible part-time job opportunity and does accommodation in Leeds with your academic life. It’s a great choice to look for jobs that offer evening, weekend, holiday and remote shifts that will allow you to work from anywhere. Here are some of the most flexible part-time job options for students in Leeds:
- Retail worker
- Freelance Writer/ Editor
- Tutor
- Hospitality worker
When applying for part-time jobs, make sure to mention your academic commitments and ask for flexible roles. Employers often respect students’ academic commitments and offer roles that balance with their studies.
Prioritize Your Academics
The list goes like this: academics, work, social life, etc. Remember, you are there for studies and not work. You are working because you have bills to pay. So, start by organizing a timetable prioritizing lectures, tutorials and study time. This way, you can make sure that your work doesn’t interfere with your exams or academic performance.
Plan Your Time Effectively
Managing work and study is surely challenging but it is possible with effective time management. Living an organized life is essential to achieve one’s academic and career goals and it can only be possible when the person is highly organized.
Start by using a planner or writing your commitments, academic, professional, social, all of them. Writing your plans will give you a clear visual representation of your time and you can easily identify any potential gaps or issues. Remember, we all have 24 hours in a day, and it is up to us to utilize every second of it.
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
It is often considered good to push past one’s limits by working harder and smarter. This allows you to expand your skills, expertise, and knowledge. However, if you feel greedy or think of making extra money by working extra hours, it’s not going to be a cakewalk. You are a student studying far from home and what’s best for you is to work within your limits. A UK study visa allows international students to work for up to 20 hours a week.
Make sure to not cross this limit as it will be hard to juggle if you overwork or plan to add extra shifts. You must also spare some free time for yourself in order to recover from the mental and physical exhaustion.
Leverage University Resources
Your university in Leeds surely has numerous resources to support you balance work and study. If you are a student at the University of Leeds, you can connect with the student support services, career advice centers, and on-campus job boards to get a flexible job close to the university campus. You can take advantage of these resources to find part-time jobs that complement your academic life.
Boost Your Job Application
Working and studying throughout the academic journey can be challenging but it equips you with transferable skills your potential employers might seek. Skills you learn in part-time jobs will surely benefit you with future job opportunities. You can boost your job application by adding these skills to your resume and CV. Here are some of the common transferable skills that can boost your resume:
- Adaptability
- Effective Communication
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Work ethic, etc.
Drink Water and Take Care
In order to successfully balance your work and study schedule, you must drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Students often make the mistake of not drinking sufficient water which affects their overall health. What’s the point of studying and working at a top study destination when you are not able to take care of your health. Make sure to drink 4-5 lt. Of water every day.
Conclusion
Working and studying can be a rewarding as well as overwhelming routine. Students finding this routine a challenging one can surely benefit from the 7 essential tips listed above. These tips will help students manage their work and study in Leeds or any other city.