Part-time jobs: a way to get some moola and experience

I worked Part-time jobs during all of my academic life. I used to hate doing so because it took a lot of time that I can otherwise use for studying. However, looking back and knowing more about life, I was glad that I did. Even though I did it mostly for the money, I realized that it taught me valuable things that I can use in the working world. Also, I am able to apply a lot of the things that I learned from my previous jobs onto my current career.

To give you an idea of how my Part-time jobs helped me in my current career, I have outlined some examples below. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Work ethics

Photo by UBC Library Graphics

Your work ethics are very important to your success in the work place. While some work ethics may be regarded as common sense, a lot of people tend to ignore them. Some examples of work ethics that you can learn from your Part-time jobs are: getting to work on time, getting things done before the deadline, dealing with difficult co-workers diplomatically, calling ahead of time if you're going to be late or when you're sick instead of not calling at all etc. You may think that some of these things don't hold much weight but they are important.
Your work ethics reflect your personality. If you practice good ethics, your supervisor and co-workers will see you as a good, dependable person who deserves some recognition. Once you establish this reputation, they will give you the respect you deserve. Furthermore, your boss may possibly give you a promotion. However, if you're not looking from a promotion (because it is a part-time job), you can possibly ask your boss to give you a great letter of recommendation whether it's for undergraduate college admissions or graduate school.

Computer and office Skills

The age of computer technology is ever present in our society today. This is true whether you're future career is in research, sales, management, health care and many other fields. As a result, any job or career will require computer skills. I'm not talking about being able to type 30 words per minute anymore because employers are looking for people who have more skills than that. For instance, being knowledgeable with computer software such as Microsoft Office is a plus. Power point presentations, Excel, and Word are just few of the programs that you would need to master if you want to be competitive in the job market when you graduate.
You can get some exposure with these software while doing some school work but from my experience, I enhanced my knowledge by using them constantly in my part-time jobs. I was able to navigate these programs with ease because I knew how to do shortcuts and tricks that were designed into the program. If you have to do a lot of data manipulation with your part-time job, you too will be obliged to learn the shortcuts.
In addition to the computer skills, there are many office skills that a lot of people take for granted. These are things like photocopying, faxing, filing, writing e-mails, dressing appropriately etc. Although learning these things may be easy in the beginning, some trouble shooting may be required in using the machines constantly, improving your writing, and perfecting the office attire. For instance, the fax or copy machines have given me trouble many times when they break down or just refuse to do what they were designed to do. After having fixed these problems over and over again, I don't stress out too much when I encounter them today because I know that I have the ability to fix them.
In addition to troubleshooting the machines, being able to write succinct, typo-free e-mails are a must when your audience is your boss or your colleagues. In the same sense, wearing proper office attire is essential because it exhibits your professionalism. Both skills reflect your competency in performing your job responsibilities even though they are not mentioned in your job description.

Value to Resume
If you were able to choose part-time jobs that are relevant to your academic major, then they can add value to your resume. This is beneficial to you because most recent college graduates don't have this advantage. In fact, lack of experience can be the reason why many of them find it difficult to find a job after graduation. So, while you still have time (usually beginning sophomore to senior year), find jobs that you think will enhance your resume when it's time to look for that first job in your career field. An added benefit to doing this is you will be able to meet in your future career. This is called 'networking.' Through networking, you may be able to form connections with people who can either hire you or refer you to somebody who can.

Now you see how working part-time can be very beneficial to your career as an emerging professional. Keep in mind that every experience counts. Learning is a process and you learn more when you do more.

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