Working vs. Studying

The HSC is pretty much a full time job. With homework. So what’s the deal when you’re juggling this beast with an actual, contributing-to-society job? And is that really such a good idea to begin with? I think it’s time for a cheeky pros and cons list.

PROS

1. Organisation

Now, off the bat, it might seem like having a job during your HSC would be a death sentence for that beloved study schedule, but having something as structured as shifts in your week can help you figure out exactly how much time you really have, and how that is best spent.

No more Netflix until you can hear the birds singing, when you know how many hours you have to work in a week, and how many hours your teachers recommend for staying on top of things, you can successfully plan out your time.

This also means being more effective with your study by using some time-savers, like HSC Hub videos. Winning!

2. Money

Jobs mean money, even if that is minimum wage.

Having a bit of spare cash lying around means you’ll be able to reward yourself for working hard during the year - a ‘treat yo self’ moment is definitely warranted when you smash that half yearly.

Also, Schoolies doesn’t come cheap.

3. Experience

Not only is it great to get something on your resume while you’re still in school, but it’s most likely that you’ll be heading on to uni or college after graduation.

Here, unless you have super generous parents and are basically Richie Rich, you’ll be balancing work and study. Working during your HSC can actually be great preparation for uni, and can help get you into a groove which will ensure your work/life balance keeps steady for the many years ahead.

CONS

1. Time

It’s pretty obvious that fitting a working schedule into your HSC year sucks up a bit of valuable time, whether that be study time, social time, sport time, family time, or even the much underrated me time.

It’s pretty clear that the HSC is a juggling game from the onset, and it’s up to you to decide where you want your time to be spent. Adding a few shifts to your week might mean you need Friday night to hit your weekly study target, even if that means missing out on a gathering.

This is really where you have to figure out exactly where your priorities lie.

2. Stress

Adding a working schedule into the mix can put pressure on you to work like a well-oiled machine during the year. It can feel like a single sick day will completely derail this mission.

A part-time job is hardly worth a daily anxiety attack, so make sure this isn’t a major source of concern for you, especially if you find your working environment can be a little stress-inducing.

To help minimise this, don’t hesitate to reach out to your employer in the intense periods of the year, like half yearlies and trials, to see if you can cut down your hours for those weeks. A few extra hours of free time may be the breathing space you need.

3. Energy levels

Even if your shift technically finishes at midday and that means you have a whooole afternoon to study, are you really going to feel like it after opening the Woolies register at 6am?

Working can be a serious drain on your energy levels, and everyone knows you can’t study effectively with droopy eyelids. Don’t let work drain any hope of a solid study sesh out of you.

So, it seems to be a pretty even spread.

There are heaps of factors that go into the decision whether or not to work during your HSC, and it’s really a case of what works best for you. Weigh up all the pros and cons and make a decision that you feel comfortable and confident with.