How do international Hanze students combine a student job with studying?

Working and studying at the same time can be demanding and requires good planning skills, but it can be a real advantage for your future. Two international Hanze students talk about how they combine a student job with studying.

‘I am working as customer care specialist in a car rental gateway company in Estonia, which is where I am from,’ says Mattias, a first-year student in International Business. ‘Why did I decide to get a job while studying? I wanted to move out of my home city, live alone, and get a headstart with my career. And I can say that my decision has both pros and cons. Where I work, we have a small team, so I have a lot of probabilities to get promoted. I can also propose ideas that could help the company and get feedback on them; and the pay is above average, which is a great as well. However, I have to work forty hours a week and the schedule is not as flexible as I would like it to be. But, even though a lot of stress and responsibilities come with it, sometimes I feel like I am in the right place and I like doing what I do.’

I have to work forty hours a week and the schedule is not as flexible as I would like it to be

Barney, a mechanical engineering student from Hungary, delivers food for a restaurant in Groningen. ‘It is connected to Thuisbezorgd, but I do not work directly for them, so I don’t wear the typical orange jacket. When I came to live here in Groningen, I was aware I would have to deal with expenses, but I did not and still do not want to rely on a student loan from the government. So there was no other option, I knew if I wanted to take this path, I would have to work.’

I did not and still do not want to rely on a student loan from the government

‘I would suggest working as a customer care specialist to anyone comfortable with working under pressure and speaking or emailing people on a daily basis.’ continues Mattias. ‘However, it is not my dream job. Indeed, if I could, I would choose to analyze the financial or the human resource aspect of a company. But I have not thought and decided on the specifics yet. Even though I appreciate it, there are some days when the mood is not there. But then I just try to understand what is the whole point of what I am working on and I remind myself how laziness could destroy everything – and this always motivates me enough to keep going.’

As I am doing food delivery, I need to drive a lot, but driving is one of my hobbies

‘As I am doing food delivery, I need to drive a lot,’ says Barney. ‘But driving is one of my hobbies, I have always liked it, so I don’t mind this at all. It also gives me a pretty flexible schedule, allowing me to combine a student job with studying in the most convenient way. Also, It is not an office job, which I consider a plus.’ So are there any cons to his job? ‘Well, food delivery is monotonous,  you don’t have to think. Just repeat the same steps over and over again. Also, I usually work late at night which is not always ideal, especially in winter.  But balancing both the pros and cons, I can say I like it. But it depends on the person. The weather is not a problem for me. But for a lot of people, Dutch weather can make the job pretty hard.’ So is this the perfect job? ‘No, not for the future. I want my next job to be connected to my studies, that’s why I study in the first place, right?‘

It allows me to combine a student job with studying in the most convenient way

‘Because I am already working, I learned how to manage my time and, I got practical information about the labor market. Therefore, I believe that my choices so far are completely justified. I would hate myself if I had not chosen to walk this path.’ says Mattias. ‘After graduation, I believe I will benefit from already having some work experience and I might have more job possibilities.’

‘Of course, there are days where I do not like what I do, but I know I have to do it. I do think all this will help me in the future. I am learning how to live alone, truly independent, without getting money from my parents or going home during weekends to get some food. It is a big change, you begin doing everything by yourself and you start noticing what your weak points are. But the perception of this job depends on the person, his background, and attitude. Some people prefer focusing way more on studies and start learning things not linked to the university much later.’

I will just sacrifice some sleep to finish what needs to be done

How does Mattias handle those periods when exams, assignments, and work are all coming together at the same time? ‘I have learned to manage my time a lot better. But when I do have difficulties combining everything, I will just sacrifice some sleep to finish what needs to be done. So far, this strategy has worked out great.’