15 Best Work Schedule for College Students

Your first purpose as a student is to just be a student. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford to be only students. With the rising expense of education, an increasing number of students are required to work for a few years before attending college, take out loans, or find employment that allows them to plan around their studies (or vice versa).

In this article, we would be exploring the 15 best work schedules for college students which would go a long way to help navigate your work and school life. In this article, we also discussed the pros and cons of working while in college.

So, sit back and enjoy the short read.

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The Pros Of Working While In College

As you will see, there are various advantages to working while pursuing your degree. From the obvious benefits such as earning money to the less obvious benefits such as acquiring crucial soft skills that you’ll need in your future profession, examine the following positive takeaways.

Earning money is a plus.

Whether a student works full-time or only a few hours per week, there’s no doubt the benefit of having a constant income that can be used to save, pay rent, or buy school supplies.

Megan Robinson, a financial coach, says, “I’ve always had an independent spirit, and working in college allowed me to pay for my rent, textbooks, clothing, food, and whatever else I needed.” “This was a great weight off my parents’ shoulders, and it made the move from college to a full-time job a lot simpler.”

Working may be more necessary for unconventional students. Leaving employment to return to school may be a huge barrier for individuals returning to their education later in life, which is why many choose to work while completing a degree.

“Non-traditional students are frequently working when they begin college or are returning to school after a break of several years.” “They still need to work to support their families and cover their living expenses,” Bridges says.

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Mastering time management is a plus.

Working while in college may help you build one crucial soft skill that will benefit you as you go through your career, regardless of the field you wish to work in after graduation: time management. As they manage their academics and employment, working college students have little option but to develop this ability.

“Working while in college teaches you how to prioritize your time,” says Andrew Rombach, a content associate. “It’s an imperative requirement to manage your time well if you have to work part-time on top of managing a semester’s academic load.” If you can do this, you’re not just working harder, but also wiser. This is a priceless experience for the future.”

Bridges agree that students must plan ahead of time. “At the start of each semester, utilize the syllabus and course deadlines to plan out when you will work on the readings and assignments.” This should be done daily to avoid falling behind.”

The advantage of graduating with less student debt

Another advantage of working while in education is the option to pay off tuition and student debts as you go. Working students can contribute small sums to their education to assist alleviate the burden of student loan debt and compounded interest later on.

“One of my biggest regrets was not working when I was in college,” says James Finn, who spent the last three years paying off loans before becoming a travel vlogger. “I graduated with $34,000 in student debts, $8,000 of which was interest accrued over four years.”

He wishes he had worked during college to lower the amount he owed. He reckons that if he had merely worked part-time, he might have drastically reduced his debt.

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Gaining professional experience is a plus.

Working while in college allows students to broaden their professional experience. This is especially true for conventional students, who may have little to no job experience.

“Working while in school provided me with hands-on experience, I needed to land my first real job, putting me well ahead of other college grads who just received classroom instruction.” “There is no substitute for experience,” says Amanda J. Ponzar, CMO of Community Health Charities.

Regardless of whether the employment is directly relevant to their major or chosen career path, almost any job may equip students with transferable skills. These abilities and experiences may be highlighted on resumes and in interviews to illustrate the breadth of your experience to potential employers.

“Working while in college put my degree and job into perspective,” says Meghan Brumbley, who worked full-time as a wedding organizer while attending college. “I realized that the skills and information I gained at work were more significant than a flawless GPA.” Those abilities are what keep me moving ahead now.” She started her own wedding planning business after graduating.

Broadening your circle

Another evident advantage of working while in education is the ability to broaden your professional and social circles. Traditional students may discover that on-campus or other part-time employment may be a terrific opportunity to make friends and other classmates, in addition to providing professional networking possibilities.

“You get to meet some very incredible individuals, both staff and guests.” “Some of my greatest friends today were college employees,” Robinson adds.

And, when it comes to business networking, you never know how the contacts you build can benefit you later on or throughout your career. “Working while in college is an excellent way to network.” “You never know whom you’ll meet or what chances you’ll come across,” she continues.

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The Cons Of Working While In College

When it comes to working at college, our seasoned specialists believe that there are fewer disadvantages than positives. They are, nevertheless, worth considering if you are unsure if you will be able to juggle a career and your education.

The disadvantage is that you will have less time to dedicate to your education.

Working while in college has the potential disadvantage of stretching yourself too thin – in certain situations at the expense of your academics. “One disadvantage of working while in college is that your grades may suffer, depending on your degree and amount of self-discipline,” Robinson concedes, though she claims this isn’t always the case. “A lot of people work in college, so your ability to manage your time is critical.”

Students must focus and manage their time well so that work does not negatively impact their grades. The trick is to strike the correct balance and form healthy habits to guarantee that your academics receive the attention they require.

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Deprioritizing leisure time and extracurricular activities

College is a hectic period in anyone’s life, but adding employment to the mix may quickly fill up your calendar. And when you prioritize what is essential to you — education and job — your once-coveted free time will begin to decrease.

“Your social life may suffer as a result.” Work and education consume a significant amount of your time. “If you prioritize job and education, you’ll most likely lose out on social skills,” Rombach adds.

But it’s not all horrible. Being dedicated to your academics and job allows you to avoid other distractions. It’s all about keeping your eye on the prize – finishing your education — and remembering that this is only a brief period of your life that will pave the road for future achievement.

15 Best Work Schedules for College Students

A work schedule consists of a list of periods when an employee is expected to work. Days per week and hours per day are generally referenced in a work schedule. There are many different types of work schedules, which will vary depending on the organization and an employee’s position.

These schedules make up a critical element of a job’s working conditions as employees value a schedule that is beneficial, predictable, flexible, and fair. Work schedules can also vary depending on the time of year. Here are some of the most popular types of work schedules for employees.

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1. Part-Time

Because of the number of hours worked, employees will be able to recognize the difference between working full-time and part-time. A part-time schedule contains fewer hours than a full-time job. One significant advantage of working part-time is that the individual has more freedom to maintain other duties outside of work.

This is a great work schedule for college students. However, one significant disadvantage of working a part-time schedule is that employees will not receive the same benefits as full-time employees.

Every week, hours might be unpredictable and uneven. Monday through Wednesday from 7:00 to 11:00 AM and weekends from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM are examples of part-time schedules.

2. Fixed

A set work schedule consists of the same amount of hours and days worked each week. Fixed work schedules tend to be constant when both the employer and the employee agree on the number of hours and days that will be worked.

Fixed work schedules are similar to full-time work schedules, but the main distinction is that they can be applied to alternate work periods, such as Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Fixed timetables allow firms to plan ahead of time and calculate labor expenditures more easily. You don’t have to update your standard template every time you create a new work schedule with this schedule. This is one of the best job schedules for college students.

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3. Flextime

This variety, often known as a flexible work plan, is less strict than a fixed work schedule. In flexible work, scheduled employees are expected to work core hours while the rest of their hours are worked according to the employee’s preferences. Employees collaborate with their employers to select when they will work.

Employees may be expected to work a minimum amount of hours or to be present at work during a specific daily block of time, depending on the employer’s policy.

However, shifts can frequently be swapped with other employees to meet the demands of both the company and the employee’s hectic schedule. This is one of the job schedules for college students.

4. Rotating Shifts

A company schedule can be divided into shifts that are either continuous 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or non-constant with intervals when all personnel is off. Employees take turns working various shifts since these shifts are alternated. Day, swing, and night shifts might be rotated monthly or quarterly, depending on the sort of labor required.

This is a great work schedule for college students. This work schedule is common in occupations such as the military, construction, roadwork, power plants, and healthcare. Transitioning between different schedules can be challenging for some employees since sleep and eating routines must alter, and time to visit family and friends is reduced.

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5. Split Shift

Working a split shift schedule entails dividing hours during the day. This is a great work schedule for college students. For example, an employee may work 4 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon, and then another 2 hours in the evening; or 4 hours in the morning, followed by 4 hours more in the evening.

Working more than once a day might be due to corporate requirements or an employee’s inclination. Some employees may request a work schedule that includes various periods in a single day. This timetable divides one’s day to allow for other life events in between.

6. Compressed Workweek

This work schedule variation compresses a conventional 40-hour, Monday through Friday pattern into fewer workdays. Instead of working five days a week, a compressed workweek extends the hours on three or four of those days. In exchange, the employee is given one extra day or two off every week.

The most typical compressed schedules are three 12-hour workdays followed by four days off, and four 10-hour workdays followed by three days off.

This option is more readily applied to non-exempt (or bi-weekly paid) employees who work the maximum number of hours, however monthly paid employees who work more than 40 hours per week can also have this schedule. This is one of the best work schedules for college students.

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7. Shift

Conventional shift work is one of the most prevalent forms of work schedules, and it is often designated for enterprises that run for more than 10 hours in a single day.

Employers will frequently set up a first shift such as 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, a second shift such as 3:00 to 11:00 PM, and a third shift, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, commonly known as the night shift, especially for firms that are open around the clock, as in 24 hours a day.

This is a great work schedule for college students. Employees who work normal shifts may be compelled to work what may be deemed irregular hours, depending on the business.

8. freelance

A freelancing schedule is one of the most flexible for a worker to have. Freelancers can work whenever they choose as long as their needed job is accomplished by a specific date. Employers who integrate a freelancing work schedule imply that they are giving up a significant level of control over when an employee works.

However, finding someone they can rely on to handle work with care and do it accurately and on time lends respectability to the freelancing schedule. On the other hand, distracted freelancers or employers that refuse to relinquish control will create a difficult work environment. This is one of the best work schedules for college students.

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9. Results Only Work Environment

While this option is comparable to the entire flexible work schedule, it focuses on outcomes and productivity rather than the amount of time a person spends on the job.

A Results-Only Work Environment, or ROWE, is a policy in which employees are evaluated or compensated based on the outcome of their performance.

Employees in a ROWE can entirely set their schedules and work the hours that are most convenient for them. A results-oriented, structured leader is required for a ROWE to be effective.

Employers must have a clear vision of what needs to be done, as well as responsible workers who understand and appreciate that goal. This is a great work schedule for college students.

10. Alternate work schedule

An alternate work schedule is a wide word for any flexible or non-standard work schedule that is set to an employee’s desire. An Alternate work schedule is any form of work schedule that differs from the timetable utilized by others in an organization.

This is a great work schedule for college students. These schedules are typically put in place to meet employee demands such as pregnancy, medical concerns, and family difficulties.

When an employee works an Alternate work schedule, it signifies that someone was recruited to fill the hours that an original employee departed. These schedules are normally transitory, although they might become more regular if the problems that precipitated the employment persist.

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11. Overtime

Because they are understaffed, several companies must include overtime in their work schedules. Whether it’s due to a hiring freeze, being forced to downsize, or being in a sector where employees are expected to work far more than 40 hours per week, some businesses will be forced to rely on overtime shifts to stay afloat.

Employees who work more than full-time hours due to company demands may be reimbursed at a higher rate of pay in specific instances. Employees will be needed to work an average of 56 hours per week if a corporation employs 3-crew schedules to cover 24 hours a day and 7 hours a week. This is one of the best work schedules for college students.

12. On-Call

When an employee accepts an On-Call schedule, it indicates that the employee is available to work at any hour, day or night, as the company requires. This obligation is often rewarded in addition to the hours worked because it precludes the employee from having any valid time off.

Because on-call tasks are originally perceived as difficult, they are typically cycled among many staff. This is a great work schedule for college students.

Employees often split On-Call responsibilities so that no one individual is required to work around the clock. Most businesses will adopt this sort of work schedule to prepare for crises or no-show personnel. Physicians, for example, frequently work one On-Call day per month in case of an emergency.

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13. Seasonal

Employees that work on a seasonal basis only labor for a few months out of the year. The Christmas season of November through December, as well as the summer season of June, July, and August, are examples of typical seasonal work schedules.

Seasonal employment isn’t simply for kids who have recently graduated from high school or college. Many individuals have seasonal jobs to augment their income, increase their savings, or save for a large one-time purchase.

In most circumstances, an employee’s schedule will define which season is best for them. The winter months are good for retail and restaurant occupations, whereas the summer months are ideal for festival and camp jobs. This is one of the best work schedules for college students.

14. DuPont Change

The DuPont plan is one of the most common work schedules because it uses alternating 12-hour shifts with four teams to assure coverage around the clock.

During a four-week cycle, an employee’s schedule consists of four consecutive night shifts, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days off, three days Employees appreciate having a 1-week vacation built into each month with this program.

However, one day off in the middle of the month may not provide employees with enough time to acclimatize before returning to work. This is a great work schedule for college students.

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15. Pitman Shift

This common plan, also known as the “Every Other Weekend Off Schedule,” consists of four teams of employees working two 12-hour shifts per day on two-week cycles. Each squad will be assigned either day or night duty.

A typical timetable for teams working the night shift might be as follows: 2-night shifts, 2 days off, 3-night shifts, 2 nights off, 2-night shifts, 2 nights off, 2-night shifts, and then 3 nights off Employees will get every other weekend off under this arrangement, allowing them to spend time with family and friends.

This is a great work schedule for college students. This plan requires employees to work no more than three consecutive days. 12-hour night shifts, on the other hand, might be physically demanding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

There are several methods for employees to perform a successful job, and these schedules indicate how many employees are required throughout a particular session. Your capacity to make important modifications to any timetable will decide how big of an effect you will have depending on the business you operate in as well as on your academics as a college student.

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References

• https://www.usnews.com/ – Time management tips for college-bound high school students
•  https://www.thebalancecareers.com/ – Types of work schedules
• https://www.topuniversities.com/ – 7-time management tips students

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