Part time jobs during college: Good or Bad?

Part time jobs have always been one of the key factors attracting students abroad from all over the world. Even now during my diploma, I was advised by my close friends to apply for part time jobs. The main factor that attracted me towards the concept was the idea of earning extra income which I could use on whatever I wished to buy such as clothes, gadgets or even on food. However, it has been found that a large number of students who apply for courses abroad carry with them the heavy burden of loans and thus, take up part time jobs. Newman and Newman (2008) suggest that the monetary benefits gained by working during college often attract students even though they may not be as high as a graduate job.


A report by The Times claims that part time jobs are the main elements in a student's life. It is also asserted that nearly 50% of students who study abroad work during term while some work only during vacations. The report also states that nearly 70% of students have said that the main reason for working during their studies was to cover living expenses.

It is indeed tough to say whether working during college is good or bad. It is good for the fact that extra income helps to boost the morale and aids in making an individual feel more self- reliant and independent. However, the other side of the coin is that students tend to slowly increase the number of working hours as that means more income. As more income pours into pockets, students lose their focus on studies. They feel that they are able to earn enough even without acquiring a degree. However, the main aspect that they often fail to realize is that while they are working on part time jobs, they would have to be supervised by someone far less educated than them. A decent graduate job differs in this aspect. The quality of work is much different and hence, the attitude of co- workers would be far better than those working on part time jobs. The common part time jobs taken up by students these days have been found to be in fast food restaurants, post offices and in sales or marketing.