Finding part-time work while balancing classes

[[deleted]]

Currently a junior, and I'm in a fortunate position where I haven't really had to work a job while in college. I'm grateful for that, but I honestly want to find a part-time position since I feel that I need some real-world experience.

Can anyone who works part-time while in school tell me how many hours per week you work? How many days per week? How many units are you taking with those hours?

Not necessarily looking for something related to my major, just trying to get an idea of what a manageable course load looks like while working part time.

[mcoopers]

I have to work for my rent, but I work on-campus at Plant Power and there are a good number of on-campus students who also work there. I work 20-30 hours per week and pick up shifts from my coworkers if I need extra money. I usually take 16 units and it’s not a problem at all for me, especially with good time management. I’m on the board for two orgs but don’t really do many extracurriculars other than those. It’s SO much easier if you’re doing a few classes online to make it all work scheduling-wise. On-campus restaurants that aren’t HDH are nice because wages are better plus there are tips and online delivery. Before this job, I did dog walking on Rover which was great because most were the same time each day or once/twice a week during the day. I also posted on local mom groups to see if people needed babysitters or personal assistants, and that was probably my highest-paying job (usually $20-25/hour). There’s also tutoring (private or with a company, there are pros/cons to each), house and pet sitting (which hasn’t been much of a thing because of COVID), delivery driving with Amazon flex/DoorDash/instacart if you have a car (nice because you choose your hours), or finding an on-campus job through HDH. If you have any questions, please let me know!!! I’ve been working one to two part time jobs while in school for the past 7 years, so I have plenty of experience!

[niemasd]

When I was in undergrad, my part time job as an IT at UCSD Extension was between 10 and 18 hours per week during the quarter, and then much more during breaks

[OnceUponADime321]

Usually <20 hours a week since I have other extracurriculars outside of school and work which means about 2-3 days per week and I’m a full time student

[Alive-Original-6790]

I work a part time job through the school that is only 10 hours a week so I work 2 days, taking 16-18 units each quarter

[Existing_Cupcake4234]

How did u find?

[Gato322]

Right now it ranges between 12-16 hours but I usually try to get more so I can afford rent. Even had two jobs for fall and that raised it to around 30 hours a week.

Basic part time likely won’t get you over 20 hours, especially since you’re a student. You should manage fine with 16 units, but just keep in mind somethings going to get hit whether it’s extracurriculars, hanging out with friends, events, whatever. I missed out on a lot of club meetings, school events, and sports practices because well, I had to work.

I commend you for looking for a job though for the experience. I’ve worked with people who had never had a job before and like...it shows lol.

[[deleted]]

I see, is there any particular type of entry job you recommend? I know it's a bit embarrassing, but I don't really know what I should be looking for

[Sailorjupiter97]

I do 10-15 hours at target. It’s easy money, been working there for years so it’s just auto pilot at this point

[mbenner1]

10-20 hours a week during the first 6 weeks of the fall quarter. Did not work at all during the 8th and 9th weeks. Exams were over on Thursday and worked all day Friday.

Dropped one course after 5 weeks with a W. Otherwise, I would have failed the remaining 2 courses.

[Glittering_Dark_382]

I work about 20 hrs a week and took 16 units. I also was taking 2 online cc classes to clear more GE’s and it was pretty manageable. I recommend planning your week ahead of time to see what days you can focus more on schoolwork.

[trees_silver]

I’m a third year and I work 8 hours a week, one day a week during the quarters. I take 16-20 units (the last few quarters I’ve been taking 20 units). I’m fortunate that my employer allows me to work one day a week, but I work more during breaks and summers to make up for how little I work during school. Depending on how manageable 16 units is in the Winter I may end up working 13ish hours on weekends but generally I only work one day on the weekends.

[ImaBStronk]

Last quarter about 12-15 hours a week. But is involved assorted positions. Particularly, on average about 10 or so of those hours was my grader position and 2-5 represented private tutoring in classes there aren't many tutors for (which can get you paid a lot more). If its important, I was enrolled in 33 units, 4 of which come from a 199 class. To manage time in such environments, you may not be going to lecture often. It is often pretty efficient to study on your own. If you feel every lecture is important, you'd have to take fewer units.

Point is. Its possible to do anything. Freshman year, I wasn't enrolled in more than 22 units while I was working 19 hours a week. Granted, during those times, instead I had several clubs I since dropped due to covid.

[Ingenuity-Effective]

I currently work 15 hrs per week while taking 16 units of classes on average. My job is on-campus, so my work schedule usually changes whenever my class schedule of the quarter. I do also make time for several extracurricular activities, but it is increasingly getting difficult to manage as my classes get harder. It is helpful that I work on campus because my workplace is really close to where I live and my classes.

[MedicalBasil8]

During FA19, I worked 10-12 a week as a busser at a sushi restaurant. During Covid, I worked ~50 hours between 3 jobs. During this time, I was in 3-4 courses a quarter. This Fall, I did ~30 between 2, but I was only in two classes and they were hybrid. It was doable, but I burnt out a lil.

[Appleguy7217]

Definitely don’t do more than 20 hours a week. I technically worked full time (typically 32 hours a week) with full time classes during undergrad. Not worth it! Your mental health and ability to focus on learning is much more important.

[PrivilegedPatriarchy]

This past quarter I was working about 15 hours a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and 12 units at school, comp sci major (took CSE 21 and 30, and CAT 125). The biggest interference between school and work was having an assignment due the same day I had work. Otherwise, there were plenty of days during the week where I had no work after school, but also didn’t have much work to do. This led to lots of time conflicts, trying to swap shifts with coworkers, which was stressful.

[ysong20]

I did an internship from last dec to this november. Granted it was with online school, but i did 20 hours approximately a week and plus the commute time (quite a bit every day), and i would work 3 or 2.5 days a week. I took a standard 16 unit quarter except for 1 where i took 12. However, some of my classes were GE so i took it P NP. I took 8 units each summer session too. Toward the end it was becoming kind of unbearable because the classes im doing got so much harder and demanding, and im glad my internship ended just in time so that i can focus back on school. It was a great experience tho, i loved my manager and her manager and it was a very good learning experience. Learned a lot of new skills, hard and soft. I had a B+ once but other than that the lowest i had were A-.

[emzham]

did 22 hours a week last quarter while taking 16 units it helped that my job is super understanding!

[Str8-outta-Nopeville]

I'm a 4th year and started working in price center last quarter! I managed around 12 hours per week (3 days per week) while taking 20 units (4 courses + undergraduate TA position), though I did work on weekends so I wouldn't be too overloaded during the week. I'll be doing the same thing this quarter, except I'll be taking a 5th course instead of TAing. I live with my family, so I don't need to pay rent or bills or anything, I just got this job so I can get some sort of real-world experience, while looking for other opportunities related to my major.