Balancing High School and Part-Time Work

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Are you excited that you're old enough to secure a part-time job and earn your own money? As you begin exploring the possibility of entering the work world, think about whether getting a job is the right decision for you. To start, ask yourself the following questions:

Working takes a lot of time and energy, so you need to make sure that you can handle both employment and your current commitments.

Important Considerations

If you are considering working part-time, schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss this move. Talk to your counselor about why you want to work and what type of position you're seeking. Simply explaining your goals to someone else can help you make decisions and figure out your priorities. When students who are thinking about working come to Stephanie Binder, college counselor at The Beacon School in New York, she says that she checks "to see how stable their grades are and helps assess if they have the time-management and organizational skills to ensure that a job will not negatively impact their ability to complete their schoolwork."

Binder also talks to her students about the pros and cons of having a job. "Under pros, I list learning about responsibility, time management, fiscal matters, putting customers first (if it is a service job), and interpersonal communication skills," she explains. "Under cons, I include lack of sleep, insufficient time to focus on course work, decreasing personal or social time, and conflicts with extracurricular activities."

You have to weigh a number of factors when deciding whether or not to get a job. The important thing is to arm yourself with as much information as possible, so you can figure out what choice makes the most sense for you.

School Comes First

Schoolwork, including homework and studying for tests, should always be your top priority. "The activities and courses students choose vary considerably, so it's important for young people to keep their individual situations clearly in mind," says Brad MacGowan, director of the Career Center at Newton North High School in Massachusetts. He continues, "For example, student actors should allow for the fact that they won't have as much time during performance seasons. Student athletes need to remember the times of the year that they'll be tied up with games and practices. Other students who are in classes that make considerable demands outside of the classroom must keep that reality in mind." These are all issues you have to think about when you are considering adding a part-time job to the equation.

Students should always let their employers know what their time limits are. MacGowan cautions students who do decide to work: "If you are rushing through your assignments…or not studying enough for tests because of work, it's time to cut back or quit and find a less time-consuming job." He adds, "Students should always let their employers know what their time limits are." If you are being pressured to work more hours than you can handle, you need to find a new place to work. You also need to make sure that a job won't prevent you from getting enough rest. MacGowan points out that students who show up for school tired are not alert and therefore are not learning all they can.

However, MacGowan thinks that working can be a valuable part of a student's life, if taken on responsibly. "You can derive a great deal from working, considerably more than just money," he says. "In most cases, you can acquire a nice dose of discipline and a whole new set of skills and experiences." In addition, your supervisor may be willing to write a strong college recommendation for you.

Additional Tips

Although working and going to school is challenging, it can be a rewarding experience if you use some foresight. If you do decide to take on a part-time job, check out the tips below on how to handle the situation and make the most of your time:

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