Be it management, engineering, design, media, or any other profession, part-time employment is in high demand in the country, with the bulk of candidates coming from Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
On an average, a well-established organization hires up to 130 interns and a small organization hires around 15 interns.
Patriot got in touch with students who are working and studying simultaneously to find out their strategies to excel in both.
Pros and cons
Nikita Chaudhary, who is working as a management trainee in the human resources department of a private company is also studying for her master’s degree in Social Work.
“It becomes challenging at times but there are some incentives of working part-time as well. For instance, you gain job exposure, and if you’re working and studying in the same sector, it helps you get a deeper understanding of the sector,” says Chaudhary.
According to Shobhit Nayak, who is a first-year student and also working as a management information system (MIS) executive at the Mahindra Group, “It is very hectic to manage both work and study at the same time.”
Nayak says, “Going to college and then going back to work is very exhausting. Travelling takes a lot of time. It is especially tedious during the exams. I have to take one or two days off from work every week to maintain my attendance at the college, because of which I don’t get my full salary.”
He adds, “I manage to complete assignments and other basic tasks on Sundays, which leaves me with very little time for my personal life.”
Mahima, a first-year student of BSc (Nursing) at Indraprastha University, says, “It might be tough to choose between rest and work as some days are so demanding that I don’t have the energy to eat my lunch or evening snacks.” Her part-time work even eats into her study time.
“I sometimes have to neglect my studies since I am unable to spend time with my family or have a meal with them. My time is majorly spent working and teaching children in order to support myself financially”, says Mahima.
Many students the Patriot spoke to, who were working in startups, said their main reason behind maintaining a hectic work-study schedule was to acquire the necessary entrepreneurial skills to help them launch their own ventures.
Online classes – the new normal
Mahima said she was able to work while studying as her classes were conducted online. This, she added, saved her crucial time that she would otherwise have had to spend on commuting.
Financial constraints and leisure
Becoming financially independent, while gaining industry experience, is what motivates Nayak to keep working while pursuing her higher studies.
“I am able to support my family as well, while also saving money on things like my college fees, which I am currently paying for myself. I no longer need to ask my parents for money anytime I go out,” says Nayak.
Paras Khatana, who is currently pursuing graduation and working as a recruiter in a private company, says, “When I passed school, I didn’t have the finances to pursue further education. So, I started doing night shifts in a call center and I would take my classes online in the morning. This helped fund my education.”
Covid repercussions
Covid has significantly impacted careers across industries. Chaudhary feels one has a better shot at a job if one applies with some basic industry experience.
“When the job interviews started, the majority of my former batchmates who graduated during the pandemic were rejected because they lacked job experience and there weren’t many opportunities available either”, he says.
Nikita explains, “The most significant advantage of these internships is that, if you do well, you will be hired afterwards. This will help you prepare for the workplace without putting you under as much pressure as that of an employee. Part-time jobs also give you a sense of work stability in these times.”
Pay scale
Nayak says, “I did part-time jobs and internships. The maximum I earned was Rs 4,000.”
Mahima adds, “Part-time jobs pay a decent wage if you’re looking to meet your basic needs, but I’ve rarely found a part-time job that pays well. Internships can pay up to Rs 8,000 – 9,000, but that almost requires you to work seven hours a day, and most internships are unpaid; all you get at the end is a recommendation letter.”
She adds that one can make up to Rs 5,000 – 6,000 by tutoring kids at home.
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