Part-Time Jobs: Are They Worth It?
By Lionel Getten
By 2025, it is projected that Gen Z will make up over a quarter of the workforce, but what percentage of them are actually willing to enter it? Many college students around the world are battling with whether or not they should apply for a part-time job with concerns of whether it would negatively impact their school performance. However, for others, it is without question that they seek employment to keep up with the cost of college life.
Many contributing components play into part of this decision, but the ones I am choosing to focus on are lifestyle and experience. Considering these factors, part-time jobs pose plenty of benefits and obstacles for college students, which raises the question of if they are worth the struggle.
To gauge the statistics a little better, I organized a poll on my Instagram @llionel.getten_, gathering the percentage of voters who are simultaneously employed, and enrolled in college. The results depicted 50 out of 65 voters with jobs, but I sought to validate this data myself.
Julieta Ramos was formerly a student worker for the Dean’s office of the Math and Science Department at Chaffey but is now newly unemployed as a full-time student. Able to attest to both perspectives, Ramos offered her testimonial on how each scenario impacted her college life.
“While the position was great overall, having to juggle school, work and home life became more and more difficult as time went on,” stated Ramos. “Not having a job has certainly allowed me to focus on school much more.”
With this being her last semester at Chaffey, Ramos has experienced an increase in workload, further explaining her decision to leave her job. However, while employed, Ramos acknowledged the lifestyle benefits her income provided to her, as well as the life lessons she learned through her experience.
“I used the money to pay off tuition while also purchasing textbooks and any other out-of-pocket supplies required of me,” said Ramos. “My position showed me how vital it was to treat others with respect and empathy.”
Coinciding with Ramos' experience, customer service workers generally have a greater sense of personal humility and helpfulness, which boosts their social skills as stated by Rachel Emmalee Brown. “Empathizing with the problems, or even frustrations of others and working to solve their issues enhances your own trouble-shooting skills, as well as patience when dealing with others,” Brown noted.
Employment can take many forms aside from the traditional manager-to-employee ratio, in that individuals are able to become their own managers. Entrepreneurship has become a trending topic ever since the pandemic with nearly 1 in 5 adults in the past three and a half years having either founded their own business or are in the process of doing so. This alternative method of income has intrigued members of Gen Z with its appeal of allowing people to do what they love, while also profiting off of it.
Drawn to the idea, Alyssa Birdwell began her own small business “Lyssa’s Creations” after her passion for baking. “I used to bake cakes and cookies as if I was actually on a show, and I would constantly get compliments of how good I actually was, which motivated me to do it professionally and publicly,” Birdwell shared.
Like many young adults, Birdwell was motivated by her parents to become more independent as she grew, inspiring her to find her own means of income. And with this income, she has the freedom to distribute her earnings as she pleases. “When I get paid whether it’s from my job or orders from my business, the first thing I do is put a quarter/half into my savings, then the money left over on my check I either put towards bills or going out with friends,” said Birdwell.
While contributing to her current lifestyle, Birdwell will also experience the long-term benefits of early entrepreneurship. In an article by Tamoco, James Ewen discusses a variety of pros that come along with starting a small business as a college student. Some of these include providing opportunities for real-world experiences, building a wide range of financial management skills, and helping build a unique portfolio.
“I do definitely recommend entrepreneurs put themselves out there, but I also recommend they do their research on starting a business and how to run one professionally before actually starting,” Birdwell stated.
Similarly to Ramos, Birdwell too battled with upkeeping her grades while employed. Over the course of the past year, Birdwell began to improve her time management skills to efficiently balance work life with school life. Although executed successfully, she does admit that this was difficult.
So yes, balancing a job and school is 100 percent a struggle, but no one said it was not. Whether or not that is a struggle you choose to undergo is completely up to you, but it is definitely worth the lifestyle and experience. However, not everyone’s path has room for employment or entrepreneurship, which is why it is so important that you follow your own.