How to balance working part-time and studying

From the moment you descend to the glistening skyline of London to becoming a student at Leeds Beckett University, and then living the student life and juggling part-time jobs, and your studies, the journey as an international student in a new country is full of excitement and hard work. The art of balancing your student life with work-life balance is a topic often overlooked. Join me, as I unravel the tips and secrets to time management and having a great work-life balance.

My journey to securing the job

As stressful as job hunting may sound, in my experience, job hunting was very straight forward. I started looking for part-time jobs before I came to the UK; ‘Global Student Ambassador’ being one of them. To become one of the ambassadors, join as many events organised by Global Village or Student’s Union; That way, you will get to know the openings for such jobs. There are various jobs other than Global Student Ambassador, you just need to take time and look for it. Once settled, I immediately started applying through various popular job sites, whether it be a server job in a restaurant, or a sales assistant in retail, I was diligently searching for a part time job that would fit my schedule and legality (fitting the criteria of my visa).

So, how do you get a reference? I discovered the power of volunteering. I volunteered at FoodCycle to gain a few references and also gain some UK based experience which held more weight than having no experience at all. For volunteering, you can search the student union volunteering list to help find volunteering jobs.

I acquired my first job from Indeed, I applied to a myriad of various companies and jobs. It was around 1 and a half months with no luck until one random dusk I got a call from one of the jobs enquiring whether I could come in for an interview at 2pm; of course I immediately said yes like any other job interview I was invited to. Later that same day I got a call from the supervisor from the interview saying that they were very impressed by the interview and they were delighted to give me the position saying that I was the ‘perfect fit’ for the job; it was a euphoric feeling like I was on cloud 9. 

If you ask me for the best intake for international students to come to the UK, and have a higher chance of securing a job, I would have to go with September intake. Considering the fact that Halloween and Christmas will be around the corner, businesses will be hiring more employees. Even if you get a job as a Christmas Temp, most often, it could potentially lead to you having a permanent position. On the flip side, if you are coming in on January intake, you will still have a chance to get a job of course.

Mastering the art of time management

As a student, you are met with many obstacles which include various deadlines, lectures to attend, along with the hopes of earning extra pocket money. As daunting as it may sound, it is an experience that will set you for life, and will teach you important life skills. One of the skills you need to learn is time management.

Firstly, sort out your priorities and then allocate how many hours you can commit to working. Try not to put in too many hours because it will hamper your studies and your mental health. Look out for when you have your lectures, and then give yourself some resting time, and then you can put the rest of the hours on working a job. 

One of the apps I would suggest to help yourself stay organised is Google Calendar. It has been my best friend for a long time and has helped me stay on track with all my deadlines and work.

Don’t forget to allocate free time whenever you can for you to be able to enjoy student life slowly. You don’t want to get burnt out amongst all the tasks that you are doing. Take a stroll around the park or visit places near where you live. My primary recommendation for students at Leeds Beckett is to visit York and Lake District. Luckily, Global Village organises various such events and trips for you to never get bored, and explore the UK, whilst making unforgettable memories.

Unearthing Employment Opportunities

Before you start looking for a job outside the university, why not try looking for job opportunities that the university provides. There are various other on-campus jobs that you can apply for, which you can search for over at the Student Union's website or the Leeds Beckett website.

For Leeds Beckett, it is called ‘MyHub’, all you need to do is login using your student credentials and start the job search. You also have the option to seek advice from the career advice team, or use websites like Indeed and LinkedIn.

Then there is always an option for job fairs. Attend the events, try to find jobs that align with your interest, you will get to know the businesses that are hiring and can use the strategy of physically handing out your CV.

Embracing the Role of a Student Ambassador

Now, let's shift gears to a role close to my heart: that of a global student ambassador. As a global student ambassador, I've had the privilege of representing my university to prospective students from around the globe and representing myself and my country at the same time. From hosting campus tours to participating in virtual information sessions, this role has allowed me to share my experiences and insights, helping prospective students navigate the exciting journey of higher education. Moreover, the flexibility of this role has helped me get that work-life balance, and focus on my studies.

As promised before, coming to the process of recruiting a student ambassador, it was pretty simple. Once there is an opening for the job, simply email the Global Village, and they will send you the form to fill up and an essay sharing your experience as a student here in Leeds Beckett. Once you get past that, you will be called for a group interview, and if you pass it, your training begins and you will become a global student ambassador.

Being part of the university's blog squad and writing blogs is an experience in itself. I get to help students all around the world know about my experience, and things they can learn from it. I try my best to help the prospective students to learn from my experience so it’ll be easier for them and won’t have to struggle much balancing their life and their work.

In conclusion, navigating the intricacies of part-time work while pursuing a university education is no small feat. It requires dedication, resilience, and a healthy dose of time management. But with careful planning, strategic prioritisation, and a sprinkle of passion, students can strike the perfect balance and thrive in both realms. Until next time, I will be signing off.