40% of students work alongside their studies. Whether it is to gain financial independence or professional experience, you are also in this case but do not know how to organize yourself. By following our advice, reconciling studies and employment will become a real boon.
Combining studies and employment: finding a good rhythm!
Even as a student, you can claim all the different employee statuses. Several options are therefore available to you according to your needs and expectations: CDI, CDD, interim, seasonal contract, or even civic service mission …
To go further: CDI, CDD, interim, work-study…: for which employment contract are you made?
So-called “student” contracts are generally fixed-term contracts or part-time temporary assignments, or civic service assignments of around twenty hours per week, which allow you to devote the necessary time to your studies.
Weekdays, evenings, weekends, school holidays … It’s up to you to choose the pace that best suits your schedule and availability. In any case, it is better to avoid night work during the week, which can affect your ability to concentrate in class.
The choice is also vast when it comes to the fields of activity to explore. Among those who often recruit students: are logistics, hotel, and catering, delivery, sales distribution, telemarketing, cleanliness, and entertainment… It’s up to you to assess what interests you and corresponds to your needs. You can favor a job close to your skills and your student curriculum, to consolidate it, or on the contrary opt for another sector to benefit from a different experience to value in your CV.
“Some employment agencies specialize in recruiting students, just like your Adecco agency, which will be able to offer you suitable assignments.”
A hybrid activity to develop
Keep in mind that it is your job that must adapt as much as possible to your training schedules, and not the other way around.
To ensure that your studies remain your priority, facilitate your organization by selecting a job geographically close to your campus or your home. By limiting your time in transport, you optimize your schedule. Also favor flexible and adaptable schedules if your student schedule is not fixed over the year.
But all of this requires you to already have a good understanding of the time you will have to devote to your studies . Are you starting a brand new course? Better then, sometimes, to wait until the end of the first term before embarking on your job search. You will know how much time to allocate to a job and will be able to be clear on this point with your employer.
Once you have found your position, it will take time to adapt to find the right balance between your two activities . Give yourself time to find your bearings and enjoy this experience which is only a taste of your future professional life!
Also read : How to enhance your previous experience?
Good to know:
> Income from an activity carried out alongside your studies is not subject to income tax , if you are under 25 on January 1 of the tax year, and your income does not exceed 3 times the gross monthly minimum wage (i.e. €4,936 in total in 2022). Be careful to request this exemption when filing your income tax return, as it is not applied systematically.
> Your student internship allowances, and your wages received as an apprentice , are also exempt from income tax, up to the gross annual minimum wage (i.e. €19,744.41 in 2022).
> Do you receive compensation for civic service? It is not subject to income tax, without any conditions.
> Are you a scholarship holder? Your job does not deprive you of your scholarship, as long as you continue to go to class!
Financing your studies by working
Plan your days well
A single watchword to reconcile studies and employment: organization ! Several simple techniques exist to manage time effectively.
The first is to plan . Whether paper or digital, your planner should follow you everywhere. Write down recurring events such as your class and work hours. Once these slots are placed, it will be easier to dispatch the hours of revisions and other tasks to be carried out.
Speaking of tasks, think “ to do list ”. By writing down things to remember, you lighten your mental load, and therefore your stress. Once noted, you can prioritize them so as not to let one activity take over the other. The Eisenhower matrix, for example, makes it possible to classify them according to their degree of importance and urgency.
For each action thus identified, take the time to set “SMART” objectives: Simple, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Time-bound.
By planning and prioritizing your work in this way, both courses, homework and revisions as well as your working hours. You can be efficient on all fronts.
Extra tip: Start your day with the tasks you like to do the least. You will be “free” of a burden for the rest of the day.
Also read : What is career plan & how to write it?
Without forgetting to take care of yourself and get oxygen
Maintaining both work productivity and ongoing engagement isn’t just about motivation. Taking care of your mind and your body is also essential to achieve this.
When filling out your diary, remember to include time for your social life and your hobbies . Keep those around you informed of these available slots. Your loved ones will have a better knowledge of your workload and will be able to adapt to it. Thus avoiding any frustration.
Also pay attention to the quality of your nights: 7 to 8 hours of sleep are needed. Same logic for meals: a balanced diet boosts your energy and limits stress.
To avoid overwork linked to the accumulation of activities, breaks are essential! The “POMODORO” technique, for example, has proven itself in this area: to maintain a high level of concentration, work in 25-minute sessions, interspersed with a 5-minute break. Company breaks are also allowed and are an opportunity to bond with your colleagues.