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Working While Studying Abroad? Is It Worth It?...

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Working While Studying Abroad? Is It Worth It?

With globalization reining the world, hundreds of students travel to foreign destinations every year to pursue their higher education. Today students believe that getting out of their comfort zone and expanding their limits can end up giving them a wide array of opportunities to fulfill their dream.

Data shows that the number of students who study abroad keeps increasing by 10% per annum. In 2014, the total number of international students was 5 million, and it is expected that by 2025, it will reach 8 million.

The most common hosts for international students are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Among these, nearly 35-40% of the total number is constituted by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. No wonder most countries are trying their best to develop their education sector to attract more international students.

Here's a glimpse of why studying abroad is so attractive to students worldwide.

Why Should You Study Abroad?

1. Studying abroad opens up a huge range of opportunities for students to explore and finally decide what they want to do and what they want to achieve.
2. A degree from a foreign university adds a different glory to the CV. It alone is capable of attracting several potential employers and brings students a lot of excellent job openings.
3. Studying abroad means the best chance to meet several new people coming from different countries and cultures. Living with them can be in itself a great learning experience for all the students.
4. Living in a new country alone can be quite challenging. But these challenging days can help you study and learn in a much different way. This way of learning is extremely helpful for the students and is seen to have a long-term impact on the students.
5. One reason is that by this, students learn to be independent.

Though the advantages of studying abroad are many, several students refrain from taking this call because of the high expenditure involved. When you study abroad, you will have to bear expenditures other than tuition fees, food, and lodging. Wondering about such financial constraints, students often take a step back from their dream of studying abroad.

But the ones who go there find a way or the other to suffice their basic financial needs. If you have any friends or acquaintances who are studying abroad, you can ask them; they'll tell you how determined international students are about working part-time. One main reason for this is that in most countries, young adults in high school or college are responsible for bearing their own expenses, and they start working part-time at an early age. This culture, of course, influences international students to get part-time jobs.

But there are other benefits of getting a part-time job. The later section talks about the same.

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The Benefits of Working Part-Time Jobs as International Students

Earn to manage

As said earlier, having little extra income while you are away in a foreign land is the wisest decision you’ll ever take. You can cover your daily expenses, housing costs, and social life using a job. You can choose how to use it or save it for an emergency. Another great option to work while studying abroad is to pay for tuition at foreign colleges and universities. This way, you can pay off any student loans you may have taken and clear your debt from college.

Learn and gain experience 

Working offers an invaluable intangible benefit - the acquisition of priceless knowledge that can positively impact your career and personal life. Regardless of the job type, whether online or offline or related to studies, every job provides experience. This experience allows you to understand workplace structure, teamwork, and how things are accomplished. It prepares you for your future career and a full-time job.

Build a network

Although securing part-time work in your field of study is not essential, it's still crucial to maintain your networking efforts. Networking aims to establish robust connections with individuals who share your current or future career aspirations.

You may encounter individuals from your desired profession, such as a client, colleague, or acquaintance, even if you're not working in that industry. Make sure to engage with them to establish a relationship and a connection. When the time comes to search for a job, your networking efforts will prove beneficial.

Boosts your skills and knowledge

Even if you are not working in your desired profession, engaging with individuals from that industry, such as clients, colleagues, or acquaintances, and establishing a connection is important. Building a network can benefit you when it comes time to search for a job. Remember that any job can teach valuable skills that can be used in any setting, whether it is full- or part-time. Your employability and appeal to potential employers, known as "marketability," is enhanced by positive employment experiences.

Enhances your time-management skills

If you are doing a part-time job together, you will always work and learn. You will always follow a schedule, from completing homework and tests to arriving on time for both the class and the job.

Being on a rigid schedule helps you realize how crucial it is to organize your chores according to priority and manage your time effectively. Just remember to prioritize your academics and plan your time accordingly. These time-management abilities will be beneficial in both personal and professional situations.

Learn soft skills

As you progress in your career, besides having sound knowledge of the subject, you must also have several other soft skills. And the interesting part is that you get to develop these skills only when you enter the job world. When you have an experience with a part-time job, you are already a step ahead of your contemporaries in the work field. Working part-time is a great scope to enhance your soft skills like communication, problem-solving, risk management, etc.

Although it is very beneficial, for some having a work-study-life balance becomes a serious issue. But it is not something unachievable. Here are a few tips to help you with the same.

Look for some support at your workplace

Having balance depends a lot on your manager and supervisors at work. You need to have a word with them whenever you are in a tough situation. Not all of them will understand your situation, but most of them will. If you have a sudden test or extra class, try to have a direct word with them about the situation. If need be, promise to make it up later. Try and develop a bond. Talk to them about the course you are pursuing for you. This is true that often understanding the students' goals and determination makes the employer go easy on them.

Have a priority list

In order to study effectively, you must acknowledge that you may need to adjust your priorities and the current schedule. First and most importantly, make a list of tasks that are necessary and those that are optional. This may entail reorganizing your personal, family, work, and social obligations. It is acceptable to decline or reduce your involvement in some activities to achieve your goals. Sometimes if you haven't something very important coming up in the class, you can spend an hour or two in the extra workplace. This will also allow you to skip a few hours from work if you need them before the annual exams.

Use a planner

When you're juggling a busy schedule and studying, it's not practical to rely on your memory to keep track of important dates. To stay on top of everything, it's helpful to create a master calendar that includes all of your personal, professional, and academic commitments. This way, you can easily identify any potential conflicts and avoid unnecessary stress.

Work smart

Every successful professional is always advised to work smart and not hard. When you are multitasking, you should positively keep this in mind. You have to find ways how to manage all your tasks in a short period of time and then go back home and sit to complete the regular coursework. On the other hand, you must know how to listen to the lectures or when to go through the notes so that it does not upset your work schedule.

For example, while you are walking back to your dorm, play the class recordings from your phone and listen to them using headphones. This way, you'll be using the time most effectively.

Keep motivating yourself

When you have a lot to do, to make sure you are the most productive is to keep pushing your willpower. That is the easiest way to get through it. When you feel overwhelmed by the sacrifices you're making during this time, it's important to remind yourself of why you're doing it. Stay focused on your objectives, celebrate small victories, and remember that this situation won't last forever.

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The Best Part-Time Jobs for International Students

Below is a list of part-time jobs you can pursue as an international student. This list is prepared based on the students' most common choices over the years.

Usher

An usher is expected to guide the guests to their seats during a sport or any other kind of event. If you choose to work on the college campus, you will be assigned duties regarding several extra cultures, seminars, and workshops.

Barista

If you are passionate about beverages, this is the best job you can opt for. Your role will be to prepare and serve special beverages to the customers.

Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants are expected to help and assist the teachers throughout the school year.

Student Ambassador

Preaching about their own institution to potential target students and their families is the primary job of a student ambassador.

Library Assistant

You can also work as a library assistant in the institution you are studying in. This way, you'll also get to make enough time for your study.

Call Centre Representative

In an inbound or outbound call center, a representative contacts potential clients or members of the public. They answer inquiries from clients, provide information about specific products or services, and verify contact details. Additionally, they may redirect calls to the appropriate department to ensure that callers receive the assistance they need.

• Kritika Sharma
• May 23,2023