Seven steps to a part-time job

The job market has many kinds of opportunities that involve highly skilled, semi-skilled as well as unskilled work. Given this backdrop more and more students are now exploring the possibility of a temporary job, in between academic sessions or between courses.

Besides being a source of pocket money, these jobs have a lot of learning in store. They teach the value of hard work and responsibility and orient one with the social, economic and emotional demands that are an intrinsic part of leading an independent adult life. If you want your part-time work experience to be truly fulfilling and educative, here are a few things that you should keep in mind.

1 Know your reasons: Before taking up any job, it is important for you to be clear about your expectations from the job and understand your reasons for taking up the job. Use the opportunity not just to earn some extra money but to learn some important life skills for future success as well.
2 Strike the right balance: Make sure you balance your time appropriately. Do not be too hard on yourself and do not forget to enjoy yourself.
3 Use the learning moments: A job has the potential of teaching you more about life than any textbook. Use it as an opportunity to interact with other professionals and learn about the ways of the world.
4 Explore your possibilities: Ever wondered if this career path is the right one for you? There is probably no better way of finding the answer than to actually start working. Get yourself a temporary job to get a first-hand experience of what the field is really like and what you might enjoy doing.
5 Take responsibility: Working, no matter how briefly can give you a great sense of freedom and independence. At the same time, it would also compel you to take responsibility for your actions and help you understand the value of hard work and commitment.
6 Be open to experiences: Doing a job is likely to be very different from the experiences you have had in school or college. Remember that there is a learning curve for every job, and it is OK if you do not get it right the first time. Be open to experiences, explore varying skill sets and give it your best shot.
7 Do not get too comfortable: It is sometimes tempting to hang around in a temp job for longer than was intended, be it because of the money or the familiarity. However, it is important for you to keep your long-term goals in sight and ensure that you work towards attaining them.

The author is director, mental health and behavioural sciences, Fortis Healthcare