How To Decide Between A Part-Time Or Full-Time Job

How To Decide Between A Part-Time Or Full-Time Job Image via (LinkedIn) College students should consider how much time they have aside from class hours that could be dedicated to a job, how relative the job is to their desired career, and how many opportunities could come from the job or opportunities missed in the process of employment. Here are some pros and cons of part-time or full-time jobs to consider. Part-time jobs offer the same experience with less amount of hours. The ability to choose your hours and not have to commit to a heavy workload is extremely appealing to college students. Less hours at a job could be used to join a campus organization that better matches your major than your responsibilities at your job. Many students that enter college may have not had a job yet, so going for a part-time job would be the best route for newbies entering the workforce. It allows for the transition of full-time student with a part-time job to be easier and feasible. You can also decide if you like your job enough to make a career out of it. Any internship or job will help a person decide if they like it enough to continue pursuing a higher level of employment within the company. If you start as a part-time secretary at a lawyer’s office, you have the benefit of already working there to be considered for full-time employment. You could become the next CEO at your company just from starting off as a part-time employee. Part-time jobs don’t guarantee you better experience, though. While it’s nice to have a better schedule to deal with classes and homework as well as a job, part-time hours are the only time you have to learn as much as you can about your role. With the basic training you’ll receive and few hours to work, you won’t have time to move up quickly within your company. Image via (glassdoor.com) Of course, a dedicated part-time employee will still overperform and can be considered a potential asset to the business. Your bosses and coworkers will notice how much your job means to you when you’re around, and your absence will be felt when you’re gone. Full-time jobs offer more benefits. Getting paid holidays and sick leave is a definite bonus for many employees. In the long run, you get better Social Security benefits for all the work you put in for a longer amount of years. When considering a full-time job, your annual salary may set you up nicely for a while. Working 40 hours a week will increase your bank account. A millennials biggest  concern is not being able to pay back their college debt and still have money left over for a healthy retirement. A full-time job could ease this concern with stability and a semi-predictable income. Full-time jobs can burn you out quickly. Your income is better, you are getting health insurance and retirement plans from your employer, and you’re probably thinking you could do this till you’re 65. Is it worth it, though? If you had more time time to yourself, time to spend with your family, time to learn new things, time to dive into other passions and hobbies how would you spend it? I sure wouldn’t want to be stuck in a full-time job with the same schedule and boring routine every week, month, and year. Image via (rogersmedia.com) Work-related stress is also a new phenomenon taking over our population. It is mostly the younger generations that are stressed due to “work and job stability concerns.” As a young adult myself, I agree that we all feel the pressure to have a stable job and income. What we fail to realize, however, is that what is happening now is not what the rest of our lives will be like. Life takes unexpected turns. For better or worse, we cannot stress ourselves with an economy that is changing at such a fast pace due to technology, politics and social reform. Who knows what the working field will be like in 10 or 20 years? So, which is better? As a college student, most employers understand that school comes first. Focusing on your plans in front of you is more important than needing a stable job at a young age. Why should we stress about what we can’t control? What works for one person does not work for everyone. Take thoughtful consideration of your goals, youth, time, and energy to choose whether a part-time or full-time job is better for you.