By: Riya Upveja
Everybody wants to be independent and earn money to pay off their bills, to live a balanced and good life. Especially the students who are living in another city or country to study, wish to earn at least some pocket money for themselves or try to pay off their college dues.
A part-time job is a very good option for students that can help them to earn some money while they continue their studies. It is almost similar to a full-time job but the working hours are less in it and according to the hours and the work the employees are paid.
In India working hours for a part-timer is around 30 hours per week and for a full-timer, it is 48 hours.
According to the factories law 1948, people in India cannot exceed their working hours of more than 9 hours per day.
The concept of part-time jobs already existed in countries like Canada and America for a long time where students cover their job shifts along with their studies. And now Part time jobs are becoming increasingly popular in India, but they may not be as widespread as in other countries due to various cultural, social, and economic factors. Here are a few reasons why part-time jobs may not be as popular in India:
1. Lack of flexibility: despite being part-time, many jobs in India still require employees to work full-time hours. This can make it difficult for students to work as a part-timer as the timings can not be managed because of their studies.
2. Fewer opportunities: Almost 60% of India is rural which creates fewer opportunities for students as in rural areas most of the job opportunities are related to agriculture and there are not many jobs for students that require some other skills.
3. Lack of skills: In the urban areas of India which are around 40%, where there are opportunities are there to provide students with part-time jobs but the students are not skilled enough to do the required work as in India the students are more inclined towards theoretical learning than practical learning which prevents them from developing and learning about new skills.
4. Psychological barriers: In India, there is more importance given to theoretical learning and the students are told to focus on their studies so that it can land them a respectable job and fat salary. The concept of part-time jobs is unknown to people in India as Indians have high respect for education and they mostly prefer jobs that require a qualified skill set. They attach more respect and status to these jobs which becomes a psychological barrier for the students.
5. Low potential: students themselves do not see the amount of exposure they can get by working a part-time job as they are in their comfort zone where their parents are paying their bills and providing them with pocket money which restrains them from working and gaining new experience and developing new skills.
6. The uncooperative education system and time frame: The education system in India has such a tight schedule that it does not let students have time for work as a part-timer. Unlike countries like Canada and America which have a well-defined education system with strict policies regarding the amount of work that students get and their timings, India does not provide any relief to the students for working a part-time job.
Benefits of part time jobs:
1. Financial dependency: The first advantage of a part-time work is that it always provides some extra pocket money. A reliable source of income enables students to cover expenses such as tuition, housing rent, textbook costs, and many others. Students may learn a lot about creating budgets and develop into adults with solid financial management abilities if they have an early understanding of how to earn and spend money.
2. Time management: Time management, which is crucial in every student's life, may be learned a lot through juggling employment and school. This useful ability will encourage young minds to make the best decisions by allowing them to have less spare time than friends who don't work. Students will learn the value of time and how to manage it effectively rather than waste it on unproductive activities.
3. Work experience: Students who work part-time get experience much earlier, which will be beneficial to them in the long term. In addition to that, they get to list all the qualities they've acquired throughout time on their resume, which will undoubtedly set them apart from the competition. They will become more impressive to potential employers and more employable as a result.
4. Personality development: Doing a part-time work helps students develop their interpersonal skills and confidence, which are both crucial for being good people. The advantage kids have over other applicants and competitors comes from early learning of responsibility, commitment to work, improved flexibility, and teamwork.
5. Professional network: Last but not least, a part-time job helps the students develop networking opportunities that enable them to connect with people in the real world. The chance to network with professionals even before joining it can occasionally help students find the job of their dreams.
A part-time job helps kids get ready for the greater challenges that lie ahead of them in adulthood. But, it is equally important to keep in mind that you should focus on your academics at the same time to avoid getting lower scores. The purpose of the current "earning while learning" craze is to prepare students for future academic pursuits. Just the primary goal—learning—is eliminated when someone receives poor grades or is unable to perform as expected. It must be remedied by taking a few hours off from the everyday tasks or working exclusively on the weekends if the academic performance begins to suffer or problems like having insufficient sleep emerge.
