Tips for part-time and seasonal work at university in Leeds

We all know how great that feeling is when your student loan finally hits your bank account.

However, the truth is that you’ll usually discover fairly quickly that it doesn’t actually stretch too far.

And this is certainly true if you want to go exploring the nightlife scene or end your evening with a big juicy takeaway every now and again.

So, you’ve really got two choices. Either you can accept that your next three years are going to be filled with nights in front of the TV and supermarket brand baked beans, or you can take the plunge and get a job.

That being said, balancing a job with university work isn’t necessarily an easy task and, as a result, you can easily find that your studies can suffer.

So here’s our top tips for making sure you get the most out of part-time and/or seasonal work while at university.

1. Don’t take on too many hours

When you finally get the possibility of earning some money, it can be tempting to agree to all the hours available.

However, it’s usually better to take a step back first and consider just how many hours you can really work without it making your university experience less successful.

After all, what will matter more in ten year’s time: your degree grade or whether you took that Saturday shift down at the local bar?

It’s also important to realise there’s not much point in earning money to enjoy yourself if you never have enough time to do exactly that.

2. If it’s seasonal, save your wage

Seasonal work is a great way of getting an extra cash injection: especially right before Christmas, which is one of the best opportunities for getting part-time work.

But when you’re being offered bucket loads of shifts, it can be very easy to forget just how temporary these jobs really are.

Don’t assume you’ll get another job immediately after your seasonal one ends and ensure you save accordingly.

3. Don’t pick anything that conflicts with your university schedule

If you have a lecture early in the morning and you take a job which only finishes a few minutes before, chances are you’re not going to make it in time.

And even if you do, we very much doubt you’ll be able to concentrate enough to retain all that important information.

Keep your priorities straight and remember that your university commitments should always take precedent over a little extra cash. So be sensible about the hours and the jobs you choose to do.

4. Don’t be a job snob

Often you’ll find that the jobs which look pretty cool from the outside actually aren’t all that fun in reality, and vice versa.

Therefore, you shouldn’t base where you apply (or don’t apply) solely on how cool you think that job is.

Trust us, during a long shift, how your job appears to others gets less and less relevant with each passing hour.

5. Make good financial decisions so your money goes further

Just because you have a part-time job, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways you can help save on those bills.

Even though you’re earning, you’ll find that, if you don’t have a good system of managing your outgoings, then they can just eat away at your extra cash.

How you go about it is up to you. Whether you want to go all inclusive or split bills between tenants, as student letting agency, we have plenty of options for you to choose from.

When it comes to student accommodation Leeds has options for all manner of budgets, preferences and location.

So the best way of getting the most out of your newly earned cash is to make sure you’re making wise decisions regarding your accommodation. And don’t put off establishing a system so everything is paid evenly and fairly.

6. Try to take on non-paid work that is relevant to your field of study

When you’re at university, taking on voluntary work in order to improve your job prospects, as opposed to a job that can pay you right now, doesn’t seem like a very tempting offer.

However, for plenty of careers, this is pretty much a necessity to getting your foot in the door.

As such, you’ll likely discover that, if you avoid these types of unpaid jobs, you’re simply putting the breaks on when you could potentially start your career.

Therefore, if you can get a head start now, you’ll end up saving yourself a lot of time in the future.