Let’s explore the pros and cons of studying and working at the same time. Is it possible? What do you gain, and what do you lose?
The disadvantages of working and studying are that you’ll have less time and energy for studying, and less free time for yourself. Additionally, your university pace will be slower and your performance may decrease. The advantages are that you’ll enter the job market early, gain experience, enjoy more freedom, and with the money you earn, you can reinvest it in your studies.
Keep reading and let’s dive into each of these pros and cons of studying and working.
Studying and Working at the Same Time?
When you start a career, one of the first decisions you have to make is whether to work while studying. In this post, we analyze the pros and cons of studying and working.
It’s very common to make the decision to work or not when starting a career. The reason you might want to get a job is either financial necessity or personal need.
In the first case, it could be because certain families can’t do without the income that one member can generate. So, the responsibility to provide falls on that person as soon as they finish their high-school education.
In the second case, some young people long for financial independence and a greater degree of freedom in general. Is this your case?
Those who choose to focus entirely on their studies opt for this with the goal of finishing their degree as quickly as possible, and then, entering the job market.
Both options are perfectly valid. You should choose what seems best for you. But let’s take a closer look at the day-to-day life of a student who also works, or if you prefer, a worker who also studies.
Disadvantages of Studying and Working
1. Less time to study
Naturally, you’ll be working a set number of hours every day, and those are hours when you won’t be able to study. You should also consider the commute time to your workplace.
2. Less energy to study
Working requires a lot of effort, and some workdays can be more exhausting than a study day. Fatigue in people who work and study is very common. You need to keep that in mind.
3. Slower pace at university
Of course, you won’t be able to take as many courses as an average student who doesn’t work.
4. Less free time
During the little free time you have, you’ll be so tired that many recreational activities will have to wait for another time.
5. Lower performance
If you’re worried about your grades, this is a downside. Being at your best level requires time and dedication, and as we’ve seen in the previous points, you won’t have that anymore.
6. Lack of focus on studies
Since you’re working and studying, what else could they ask of you? It can happen that you find yourself in situations where you could put in a little more effort, but your own conscience tells you that you already have too much on your plate, and you give up trying.
Advantages of Studying and Working
1. Early entry into the job market
No matter which profession you choose, you will always start from the bottom in the early years. So, what better way than to get those years out of the way and pay the “entry fee” as soon as possible.
2. Making Money
As the artistic group Les Luthiers famously said in their well-known phrase:
“Money doesn’t make happiness, but it sure buys it.”
Beyond the joke, money provides you with food, clothing, and all sorts of items. If someone provides for you, it’s obvious you’ll have these things too, but you feel better spending money when you know it’s you who earned it.
Remember, there are many expenses in a university student’s life, and someone has to pay for them.
3. Freedom
This is an aspect connected to the previous one. Having a job gives you freedom, knowing that you’re earning a living. It also gives you confidence and makes you feel like you’re not tied to anyone.
4. Experience
Simply being in a job, dealing with customers, arriving on time every day, or sharing a work environment provides you with experience that benefits both life and your studies.
5. Learning Outside Your Career
This applies only if you manage to get a job related to your field of study. You’ll learn many things here that aren’t taught in universities.
There are no right or wrong decisions when it comes to studying and working.
You may find more advantages or more disadvantages. It’s true that it takes a lot of effort and organization to manage both fronts, but in any case, studying and working is possible, and success in both areas always depends on you.
Don’t feel bad if you choose one path or the other. Everyone shapes their own academic and professional career and chooses what they believe is best. There are no right or wrong decisions, only different paths.
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