Work vs. School

Trying to juggle work and school is a big issue for many students. In many cases, students must work in order to pay for their higher education. According to Working Students: What Higher Education Needs to Know, “Working at least part time is a reality for most of the new majority students, who make up 75 percent of the undergraduate population at U.S. colleges and universities”. There is also the large percentage of students reentering college after being a part of the business world for quite some time. California State University says that 20% of their students are 25 years old or older. For that large percentage, they may not be able to give up their job or are in fear of not being able to get it back once their higher education is accomplished. For all of you working and going to school, there are a few tips that might help you get through it. Hopefully these will help you get through this hectic time in your life!

• Don't try to do both full-time.
  -This one is hard for a lot of us, especially those coming back into the college world. It is true that one of the two is going to suffer when you try to do everything, because, unfortunately time is limited. Looking into scholarships might be the solution to cutting down the work hours; or if you must work full-time to keep your job, go to school part-time. This may take longer, but you'll learn and retain more when you have time to study.
• Manage your time wisely.
  -It's amazing how much you can fit into one day when you plan it out in advance. Often, time is wasted merely because you didn't plan on having any left over at the end of the day. One way to avoid wasting precious extra time is to get a day planner or palm pilot to keep your day organized. Bring your homework to certain appointments that may end earlier than planned; that extra time is great for getting a little more homework done.
• Inform you employer.
  -If you're going to commit to going to school, you need to let your boss know. In many cases, employers will encourage you to go to school and some assist you with tuition reimbursement. According to the article, America’s Smartest Companies, “A 2004 report found that 85 percent of companies with 20 or more employees offer some sort of reimbursement for educational pursuits. The journal Workforce Management estimated that employers spent $10 billion on such programs in 2003 in the United States alone.” With those statistics, it’s more than likely that your company does offer some type of assistance, and you should take advantage of that. In addition, you may have times when school is overwhelming and your work may be suffering. If this is ever the case, your boss should know why.


• Stay committed.
  -Going to school and getting a degree is the best thing you can do for yourself. It can open many doors of opportunity. In Oregon in 2006, 22.8% of jobs were only available to those with an Associates degree or higher. Of course, in many cases, the higher paying jobs require more education and experience. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and a little hard work will take you a long way!

While your situation may seem dreaded from the start, this is just one chaotic part of you life that will soon be over. While taking classes full-time generally takes 4 years, you can earn your bachelors degree part-time within 5 years. So, if time is an issue, only one additional year will allow you to focus a little more time on work. Either way you decide is best for you, if you follow through and commit yourself you will receive plenty of reward in the end.

Hopefully these tips can help you get through this period in your life.

Comment on this blog! We want to hear what you think or share your experiences with us.

by Emily Martin

The Business Shrink

Dressing for the Job You Want

Everyone has heard the saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Unfortunately, no one seems to listen to those words of wisdom. Because of this, what you wear each day can be closely related to how you feel about yourself, as well as how others see you. Each day, you should look through your wardrobe, and find clothes the show how you want to be seen by others. There are a few dressing stereotypes you should always try to stay away from at work. Hopefully, if you steer away from these styles you will be seen solely for your talents and personality, instead of what you are wearing.

The Sloppy Dresser: Those who wear stained, wrinkled, or mismatched clothing give people the impression they don't care about their appearance or impression on anyone.

The Skimpy Dresser: We all know them, those girls that wear the shortest, tightest, and most revealing clothes they can find. The biggest thing those clothes represent is a lack of self-confidence, and you definitely want to steer clear of these outfits, especially at work.

The Athletic Dresser: Those wearing sweat pants and work-out gear all the time, whether they're working out or going to work. While sweats may be comfortable, they are not the proper attire for every-day life, and not the workplace either.

The Goth Dresser: People who wear a lot of black, fishnets, and/or spike jewelry. A lot of different stereotypes can come with wearing this type of clothing, and they are just about all negative.

Those are the main styles to avoid for work attire. While drab or casual dressing isn't appropriate for every day at work, once in a while shouldn't hurt. Casual Fridays are implemented in some companies to allow their employees an appropriate time for casual style. We know everyone has their days when they want to stay in the background, and drab dressing is appropriate occasionally. However, you do not want to slow your career path by falling too far into the background. As long as you follow these dressing guidelines you should be able to focus on your career without worrying about unfair impressions causing roadblocks.

If you have any questions or additional suggestions about dressing for work, feel free to leave a comment.

by Emily Martin

The Business Shrink