is it bad to not have a part time job while in college?

Question

I am currently a freshman at a community college and my dad does not want me to work because he wants me to focus on school. My dad has a good salary but we're not 'wealthy' at all. He made it clear that he doesn't want me working until I really need to because he said I'm going to be working for the rest of my life and he wants me to do well in school right now. I am extremely fortunate to have a dad like this but I feel like I should be working just so that I have some kind of income.
I worked in the summer so I still have a lot of money saved up. I only spend my own money on gas, shopping, and eating out sometimes. But I feel like I should be working part time to help my dad out with bills. He said that I should look into internships/jobs after my sophomore year of college so.. I'm not sure what I should do.. But I know that I want to get a job next summer.
Did you have a part time job in college? Was it hard to balance college and a job?

Answer 1

You absolutely should look into internships for after your sophomore year. You might even be able to get one after your first year, if you want to try for one.



It's entirely possible that, if you're not taking classes over the summer, your dad will let you work. So that may also be an option, as you suggested. Talk to him to clarify. This could give you the spending money you want, without interfering with your studies, so it may be a good compromise.



It's not a bad thing not to work during college, so long as you have some sort of paid work experience in your history. Some employers only hire people who've held paid jobs, no matter how menial you think those jobs were, so it's good to have them. But they don't need to have been during college. Jobs in HS can be fine. Summer jobs now are fine.



It's okay to work during college, but most advisors say you really don't want to work more than about 10-15 hours per week. More than that tends to interfere with your studies. But if your dad really doesn't want you to work for now, don't work. Use that time for your studies, for extra curriculars, maybe do some volunteer work once a week or a couple times a month. If you don't work, and you get great grades, you can talk to your dad about this again.

Answer 2

It is kind of.



It's a lot worse to be 23 with little/no work experience than to be 16 with little/no work experience



Experience experience experience. It's important. this day an age even entry level jobs want you to have experience in the field. Having next to no work experience is worse. It's not just about being able to support yourself, employers don't want to hire a twenty-something-year-old who doesn't have a lot of work history. If you wait till later on you're still going to be starting out with the same jobs teenagers do. And teens are cheaper to employ than adults so you're at a disadvantage.



Also being able to balance school and work will reflect good on you, provided you have references to say you do well in both areas. Having references is more important than the experience you say you have on your resume. You can list things you've done till your resume is 10 pages long, but it's meaningless without someone to A) verify it's true and B) endorse you and your capabilities. Same goes for skill sets. You can SAY you're a hard worker but it means more when you have references to back you up.



It won't be terrible to not work freshmen year, in fact it might be good for you. gives you time to settle in and adjust to college life. but i would NOT wait until you are done with school to start working. Freshmen year I got a work study job that was 6 hours a week. That was plenty while i settled in, first semester sophomore year i moved to 15, then the rest of my college career I did 20-24.



Was it hard? Yes, but not impossible

Answer 3

I disagree with your father. "Working" is a form of making use of yourself and has many benefits, not the least of which is a sense of accomplishing something and a sense of personal value. I worked all through college and graduate school and while in medical school (after the first two years). I don't think I would have been happy doing nothing but studying and then sitting around doing basically nothing.



BY all means, follow your own instincts here.



Many a philosopher have addressed the problem of too much leisure and the outcome of not using the tools of your existence (brain, hands, arms, etc).

Answer 4

Listen to your father.

The BEST thing you can do to "help him out" is to make sure that the money he spends for your education is well spent... You can contribute by:

**not failing a class...

**taking as many classes each semester as you can successfully handle...

using the time you would devote to a part-time **job to help around the house - mow the lawn, shovel the snow, cook supper sometimes, do your own laundry, do whatever you can to lighten HIS load.

**don't get into trouble over alcohol or drugs

**avoid pregnancy

**if possible, use public transportation to save the cost of another vehicle



I GUARANTEE you that all he wants is for you to do your best to succeed in college.

Answer 5

NO. I have a grand daughter who is in college and has a part-time job. Education is easy for her, high IQ, and nothing seems to phase her at all.

Answer 6

If you can handle both school and work that's awesome! I'm second year in college and want to start working.

Answer 7

why would you think it is bad...

you are lucky you can concentrate on school

sure work during the holidays that is great

BUT... during college time ... study study study

you have the rest of your life when you leave college to work



oh and .. YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FATHER....!!!

Answer 8

Your dad is wise. Freshman year us complicated and you should learn study habits, rhythm and what you can and can't do, after that you can, but not in your freshman year. It is a very bad idea and your dad is advising you wisely.

Answer 9

Listen to your Father! He is right!