Life is a balance. And never is this mantra more important than during your years at college when you are trying to balance lectures, seminars, self-study, paid work, social life, and finding time to nip home and see the family.

Paid work is an important part of University life. Whether you are fortunate enough to not need the money or not; a part time job offers something valuable to students from all financial backgrounds. It is paramount however to think carefully about the balance of time you commit to paid work versus your studies; educational institutions do advise no more than 12-16 hrs a week for a reason, and where you sit on this spectrum will depend on your existing experience.

Broadly speaking, there are three types of people at University, and we will deal with each of these in turn. Firstly; those who have never had a job. Secondly; those who have had a part time job. Thirdly; those who have a solid employment history. These are three natural stages most people go through in life, but at University you should be working towards the third stage, as well as working towards your degree to make your transition into a post-graduate job hunter much smoother.

So you have never had a job

University on its own can give you a good enough CV to be able to take that first step towards getting your first job. It will not however be sufficient in a graduate job market. Therefore in addition to the extra-curricular activities you sign up for in fresher’s week, which should include at least one activity relating to your career path and/or degree subject, you must enter the real world of work whether you need the money or not.

First jobs are usually a bit grim (for want of a better phrase) but they are a necessary stepping stone on the path to success. Bar work, being a waitress, shop work, etc. may be considered menial and pointless, but actually they are great platforms for learning a number of transferable skills and having experiences which will become highly valuable in future interviews. It may sound patronizing, but a good run in a company environment will teach you new levels of skills such as team work, problem resolution, lone working, and customer service; all aspects present to one degree or another in every type of job. So get out there and get started. These jobs are usually targeting for students and so employers are often very flexible and allow you to fit your hours around the university timetable. Overtime will almost always be offered, which is great for extra cash, and in your first year when college work is slightly less serious, but be careful not to overload yourself after year one and try to stick to below 16 hrs a week.

So you have had part time work but nothing really related to what you want to do

You have already had a job like that described above, either at weekends, or part time around college commitments and suchlike, and that is great. In this case, it is best to try and secure a similar job to begin with, perhaps even before you move to your university city to ensure the gap in employment is minimal (employers do not like CVs with holes in). Extra-curricular-activities are still important, and especially those which relate to the field you wish to enter one day.

If you are at this stage, it may be worth contemplating work more closely related to your future career goals. Whether this is something voluntary on an internship basis carried out in addition to paid work (all the while bearing in mind the amount of hours you are totting up) to simply get relevant experience on your CV, or paid work at an entry level. Office administration, secretarial, and basic communications work are great springboards. Office experience is always valuable and also contains a number of transferable skills applicable to many sectors of work. Aiming for a company that has something to do with your chosen field is the goal, as this will expand your network of relevant contacts and companies always prefer internal promotion as opposed to external recruiting giving you a good foothold come graduation.

So you have a solid employment history

Typically, this will mean you have taken a gap between college/foundation and your undergrad course and spent a period in full time employment. Although it may not always feel like it, I believe this puts you at a distinct advantage in the graduate job marketplace as not only will you have the academic qualifications, you will have real world experience valued by all employers. Great work, just keep it up. Make sure there are no holes in that CV, and try to progress your career even whilst at uni. Secure a job before making the move and then constantly apply for part time work in roles more related to your field and use every opportunity to expand your network.

The main drawback with this stage is that you are probably used to monthly pay checks consisting of more than part time hours remuneration. Do not let this be the reason your academic work suffers, carry on working for the experience and the minimum money you need to survive. As at the end of the day you are at university to learn, not earn. You made the strategic decision to re-enter academia for a reason, and keep that at the forefront of your mind when dealing with employers.

Whichever category you fall into, you should treat the extensive university holidays as a character and profile building opportunity. Take on internships for 3 days to 3 months, paid or unpaid (hopefully the laws on this will be changing soon) and save some of your wages to be able to fund opportunities like this as there are many out there, just be on the pulse; be proactive.

The trick to the balancing act is being honest with yourself, and good organisation. Create yourself a timetable starting with your university lectures, seminars, and allocating study periods, and then fit paid work in around that. Remember to leave room for a little bit of socializing, sleeping, and eating as otherwise you will be no good in work or at uni and this is where being honest with yourself comes in. You are not Superwoman, although you may feel like it which is fab. But the problem most people encounter when entering higher education is taking on too much, which means you cannot be the best you can be in every area of your life. Something which is possible if you enter new endeavors well informed and well considered.