Part Time Job: Survival Guide

Photo credit to Chris Moss

For the last year and a half I've been saving up for university because my student loan is too small to cover the costs of living. To earn money, I had to take up a part time job and work on weekends and holidays as well as having to balance it with college. It's been difficult at times, but well worth it!

My part time job requires me to work in a small supermarket and serve customers. I'm usually stood behind the till and sometimes it gets very tedious. The long hours just standing on my feet are not fun. I wanted to share some tips with you and give some advice on how to make it seem less mundane.

1. Remember to Treat Yourself
   When pay day comes, remember to get yourself a little something. A bit of retail therapy always cheers me up and reminds you that if you didn't have a job, you wouldn't be able to treat yourself.
    
2. Think of the Big Picture
   Why are you working? It could be to save up for something special (in my case, university) or to get you one step closer to your ideal job. Working is important and all the experience you gain is really useful.
    
3. It Motivates You
   Sometimes when I'm at work, I get really bored especially when there's nothing to do. Then I think about what it'd be like to do this same job for the next fourty years - It's not a pretty thought. This motivates me to do well in my studies so that I can have a better job in the future.
 

4. Improves your Character
   At work, I am always in view of the public! Most customers are lovely and kind, although you do get a few rude ones. I think this really helps you develop your people skills and definitely improves your confidence as you are forced to speak to strangers.
 

5. You'd Rather be Bored and Earning Money for it
   I know part time jobs aren't very exciting, but you'd probably end up getting bored at home (I do)! At least you're getting paid for being bored. Just think of the money!

 I hope my advice helps someone out there. Are you tired of your job at all? What would be your ideal career? I can't wait to start designing more and hopefully one day I'll be able to do that full time because that's my passion and I take all my design work very seriously.

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What do you do about a Dilemma?

I'm facing such a predicament and I feel as though all the stuffing has been knocked out of me.
I've been applying to university, but nothing has been going right for me and I'm yet to receive an offer which is frustrating because I feel as though I'm working so hard.

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I was planning on studying architecture at university this year, but now I worry... Is this the right course for me? If I can't get into the university I want to is there any point in going this year (for £9,000 fees)? I'm having such a wobble.

Now I just don't know where to apply because all of them have entry requirements of AAB or AAA and I'm not even sure if I'll get a B in Physics this year.

Fortunately, I've come up with a back-up plan which is studying on the Foundation Course for Art & Design which is a year long and the college just up the road is recruiting at the moment for this course. I've applied there because I hear that art universities really like this degree. It's just a shame because I'd set my heart on university this year so I'll be disappointed if I have to spend another year stuck in my hometown.

I'm sorry to be so negative!  I've just had a really bad run of bad luck and set-backs.  Here are pros and cons of taking the foundation course:

Pros ♥ I'll be able to develop my artistic skills further. ♥ I can think more whether architecture is the right course for me. ♥ I can spend more time working and save up for another year. ♥ I may be able to get into a better university.

Cons ♥ I won't be going to university this year. ♥ I'll have to stay in my home town for another year. ♥ I'll have to reapply to UCAS and go through the whole process again.

I guess when weighing up the pros and cons... maybe the Foundation Course would be good. I just hate this disorganisation and not knowing where I'll be or what I'll be doing next year. Life changing decisions are so difficult!

Can anyone offer some words of wisdom? Have you been through the university process?