Balancing work with school can be difficult, but it is often a
necessity for many students. But with some extra dedication,
students have found that it can be done successfully.
“There is nothing specific I do to manage my time. I just
make sure to keep my priorities straight and stay on top of
things,” said Jameson Greco, a third-year civil engineering
student.
Some students even say that working while in school isn’t
that challenging.
“I find that school doesn’t take a lot of time, and
I have a lot of down time. My extra hours are spent working,”
said Michelle Meged, a third-year visual culture student who works
at LuValle Commons.
Directors from the work-study office and the UCLA Career Center
say time management and limiting work hours are important in
balancing work and school.
Work-study coordinator Elizabeth Paniagua said that the number
of hours a student works may have a direct effect on one’s
studies, and suggests limiting oneself to a 20 hour or less
workweek.
“There are a certain number of hours that actually benefit
a student, academically. That is, they lead to higher scores and
grades. Anything over 20 hours will have an impact on their
studies,” Paniagua said.
On-campus jobs can help students with time management, as they
work in close proximity to where they live and study.
Another advantage to on-campus jobs is that employers are likely
to be more flexible with hours, Aubin said.
The career center can assist students with placement for on- or
off-campus jobs, and provides resources such as resume building and
interview skills workshops, as well as monthly job fairs.
Al Aubin, senior associate director of the UCLA Career Center,
encourages students seeking any type of employment to visit the
office for assistance.
Associated Students UCLA is a major student employer on campus.
ASUCLA jobs include everything from flipping burgers at on-campus
eateries to selling textbooks in the bookstore and UCLA merchandise
at sporting events to staffing student union events as audiovisual
technicians.
ASUCLA maintains a running job board in Kerckhoff Hall, where
students can view and apply for current job openings.
Students receiving financial aid may also be eligible for both
on- and off-campus jobs through the work-study program. Work-study
is an attractive option to many employers, who often treat
work-study applicants preferentially because the federal government
pays a portion of the student’s wage.
Work-study eligible students must demonstrate financial need and
be assigned a federal work-study allotment as part of their
financial aid package, Paniagua said.
The work-study program lists all available positions posted by
employers on an online bulletin board, with opportunities ranging
from administrative work to laboratory assistants and community
service positions. Additionally, many on-campus jobs, such as those
at the UCLA libraries, can be entered into a work-study
agreement.