Seven top tips for students starting work

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I have now been working full-time for three weeks now. OK, so I’ve done full-time work before. Every summer holiday I would work at the local health centre to earn some much needed cash, but STUDENTS BEWARE, the thought that you will be working for the rest of your life after three years of student-dom can come as a shock! So, I thought I would put together a little list of tips to help you students out there who are soon to be facing the wonderful world of working.

1. Go to bed – EARLY. The days of partying till 3am on a student night with all your student friends are long gone I am afraid. OK, so the occasional banging head at 9am mid-week is allowed, but forget going out every day except Tuesdays like you used to! Trust me, feeling like you want to die does not a good employee make!
2. Disown all your student friends! Delete the numbers of and cut off all friends who are a) still allowed to be in bed at 11am, b) free to sunbathe in the middle of Hyde Park all day because they “don’t ‘have any lectures. Ever!” c) likely to ring you up to ask you to that fabulous party that without you, just wouldn’t be the same, d) will complain how ‘hard’ student life is.
3. Make your lunch, don’t buy it. A key money saving tip! Just because you are earning now, doesn’t mean that overdraft isn’t still there (like I try to pretend it isn’t ALL THE TIME).
4. Live for the weekends. You may not be able to be that same old party animal during the week, but boy can we still big it up at the weekend (helped by the little bit of extra cash).
5. Positive Thinking. A common thought that may pass your mind. ‘Oh my god! I have to get up at 7am for every day for the rest of my life. Noooooooooooo. Trust me, block this thought out. It can only do you harm!
6. Practice makes perfect. For the month before you work you may be tempted to sleep till 2pm to make up for all the sleep you will miss over the next 45 years. DON’T. Gradually getting up earlier during this period will make getting up at 7am a doddle.
7. Look forward to work! Go in with a positive attitude and be ready and willing to help with whatever you can.

I hope this helps any unsuspecting students out there that are soon to be starting their first jobs. Happy working!