If you've opened this article it's most likely due to one of two reasons:
1) You've just gotten into grad school and you're currently wondering whether it's a wise choice to continue or look for a part-time job while starting graduate school.
2) You're already in grad school and you're in need of a little cash.
On the contrary to what many of your program's professors may have told you or will tell you during your first day orientation, accepting or retaining a part-time job through grad school is a GREAT choice.
Within a couple of weeks of turning 15 my mom quickly pressured me into getting my first job. I was raised by a low-to-middle class family whose parents worked 40+ hour weeks to ensure that we always had food on the table. My mom simply stated "I want you to learn what it's like to earn and work for your money." Ever since that day I've worked at least 15 hours a week while attending high school, undergrad and now graduate school.
Here are the 3 main benefits associated with getting a part-time gig through grad school:
1) Simply put, it changes the way you look at things. If you've completed over 4 years of college, I'm sure you've met your fair share of individuals who haven't worked a day in their lives. This isn't a knock on them whatsoever, as I have many different classmates who fall into this category and are extremely hardworking and will go on to have successful careers. However, having to work for what is yours certainly changes your outlook on life and puts you in a position to handle your finances at an early age.
2) If you're able to score a customer service job early on, those countless hours spent dealing with those annoying customers will pay off. Having conversations with friends and family members is NOT the same as dealing with customers or clients who consistently give you a hard time.
3) It improves your time management skills and task efficiency. I get it. It sucks. The thought of being at work on a Friday night while your friends and family are going to dinner blows. However, when you have that exam in three days you need to study for, work two out of the three days and have to make time to attend a birthday dinner that night, you're forced to get pretty good at this time management stuff. A skill that will definitely be of utmost importance as you learn to juggle between the early years of your career, family, social life and sanity.
Ideally, the part-time job you accept can assist in improving the skills needed for your future career. For example, if you're entering your first year in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, go to a well-respected local gym and apply to be a personal trainer where you can refine your skills working one on one with clients. Even then, you can surely find at least one skill in any job that will better prepare you for your career.
So before you quickly dismiss the thought of working through that first year of grad school, take a minute to weigh out the potential benefits that can come from that part-time job.
1) You've just gotten into grad school and you're currently wondering whether it's a wise choice to continue or look for a part-time job while starting graduate school.
2) You're already in grad school and you're in need of a little cash.
On the contrary to what many of your program's professors may have told you or will tell you during your first day orientation, accepting or retaining a part-time job through grad school is a GREAT choice.
Within a couple of weeks of turning 15 my mom quickly pressured me into getting my first job. I was raised by a low-to-middle class family whose parents worked 40+ hour weeks to ensure that we always had food on the table. My mom simply stated "I want you to learn what it's like to earn and work for your money." Ever since that day I've worked at least 15 hours a week while attending high school, undergrad and now graduate school.
Here are the 3 main benefits associated with getting a part-time gig through grad school:
1) Simply put, it changes the way you look at things. If you've completed over 4 years of college, I'm sure you've met your fair share of individuals who haven't worked a day in their lives. This isn't a knock on them whatsoever, as I have many different classmates who fall into this category and are extremely hardworking and will go on to have successful careers. However, having to work for what is yours certainly changes your outlook on life and puts you in a position to handle your finances at an early age.
2) If you're able to score a customer service job early on, those countless hours spent dealing with those annoying customers will pay off. Having conversations with friends and family members is NOT the same as dealing with customers or clients who consistently give you a hard time.
3) It improves your time management skills and task efficiency. I get it. It sucks. The thought of being at work on a Friday night while your friends and family are going to dinner blows. However, when you have that exam in three days you need to study for, work two out of the three days and have to make time to attend a birthday dinner that night, you're forced to get pretty good at this time management stuff. A skill that will definitely be of utmost importance as you learn to juggle between the early years of your career, family, social life and sanity.
Ideally, the part-time job you accept can assist in improving the skills needed for your future career. For example, if you're entering your first year in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, go to a well-respected local gym and apply to be a personal trainer where you can refine your skills working one on one with clients. Even then, you can surely find at least one skill in any job that will better prepare you for your career.
So before you quickly dismiss the thought of working through that first year of grad school, take a minute to weigh out the potential benefits that can come from that part-time job.
Comments
Post a Comment