It's not uncommon to see students take on part-time jobs during their studies or during the summer. Some even combine work with student-employee status. These part-time jobs help finance university studies or improve the daily lives of these young people. But is this a springboard or a hindrance to their professional integration?
Student jobs, a controversial experience
Working during the academic year or summer is a way for many students to earn some extra money. This income can help them finance part of their studies or improve their standard of living.
Many of them believe that such professional experience allows them to know what they want to do next, in addition to being an opportunity to acquire a sense of responsibility. It is an opportunity that often changes their attitude to life, particularly in terms of maturity. However, having a job, even part-time or temporarily, is a source of fatigue and leaves them less time to rest and spend pleasant moments with their friends. A student job can be a source of stress, because they have to juggle between classes and the small job. On the other hand, the conditions are not always optimal in the workplace and the tasks assigned to them are often thankless and quickly exceed what was initially agreed upon.
Indeed, some employers exploit young people's lack of knowledge about labor law as student employees. It becomes difficult to manage a job, classes, and thesis at the same time, even if it remains feasible. However, when added to the mix are work-related difficulties that take on more importance than student life, this risks affecting the student's psyche and their education.
Competition between work and studies
While some students work out of necessity, others do so by choice, wanting to gain independence from their parents, who remain their primary source of income. But as they age, young students feel an urgent need to become independent.
The immediate benefit of a student job is money, which can push a number of young people to abandon studies in favor of employment. The need to earn a living becomes urgent, especially since many students prefer to leave home to pursue their university studies. That said, there are students who choose to work to build their CVs and gain initial professional experience, even opting for jobs that are far from their field of expertise.
Types of student jobs
Generally speaking, there are three types of student employment. First, there is the temporary job, which is often far removed from the student's specialization and is mostly performed in the summer or as part of one-off assignments. Then there is the anticipation job, which is a first preparatory step for integrating into working life. This type of work is generally linked to the student's coursework. And finally, there is what is commonly called permanent employment. In this case, it is a temporary job, in which the student gets bogged down and is unable to leave.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Working odd jobs often negatively influences a student's curriculum and can even impact their career path. Obviously, we shouldn't generalize; some students manage well. While others encounter real difficulties balancing studies and work. Observers believe that student jobs have no impact on studies when the number of hours worked is limited to 8 hours per week. In this case, work goes well when it involves offering private lessons or babysitting. On the other hand, student jobs negatively influence academic studies when they extend over six months, with a duration exceeding 18 hours per week. Therefore, work affects grades and results, and the risk of dropping out is increased, especially during the first academic year. Things get worse when the job in question is far from the student's area of expertise and hardly serves their career goals.
Working while studying can lead to a longer time to graduation. This creates inequality during selection for master's programs and other selective programs. The most advantaged among students have more enriching and rewarding experiences during their student life, particularly through involvement in community organizations. While working in a cafe or fast-food restaurant will not help selection into a selective program.
That said, a student job isn't all bad. In this regard, some students gain motivation through their employment and believe that this experience gives them an insight into the reality of the job market. Therefore, working as a waiter or delivery driver motivates them to be more invested in their studies. Other students develop new knowledge and skills that can enhance their resume. Moreover, when the student job is linked to obtaining a degree, the experience will better serve their integration into the professional world.
