Daisy Dewsnap: The benefits of part-time working

Daisy Dewsnap, a 15-year-old aspiring journalist from Mossley who attends Saddleworth School, writes for the Reporter. This week, she talks about how having a part-time job while at school can really help you.

I recently got a consistent part-time job and I feel that this has benefited me in many different ways already after only a matter of weeks. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside my education and extra-curricular activities, so thought I would outline some of the advantages and ways in which I feel having a job has benefited me so far as a student and a teenager!

The first advantage to having a part-time job is that it enables you to use your free time constructively and encourages you to plan your schedule.

You are able to fully immerse yourself into learning new things and gaining useful work experience which means your time will be spent much more productively! 

I have also learnt to balance my time effectively which comes in handy now that I’m in my final year of high school, preparing for my GCSEs. 

I am able to manage and plan out my time much better than I did prior to having a job.

Another advantage is being able to save up and earn a part-time income. Over lockdown, I have had lots of opportunities to fully establish my goals and ambitions for the future so having the chance to have a certain amount put into my savings each month motivates me even more to reach for these goals. It also seems to make them more realistic and brings them a step closer to me.

The third benefit that I have found from having a part-time job at such a young age is that it boosts both your confidence and social skills. 

I feel much more comfortable chatting to a whole range of people as I have had lots of experience in customer service and marketing so this helps in many different aspects of my everyday life. 

There are so many other qualities and skills that I have gained alongside these while working; I also feel that I have become a much more determined, resilient person.

Overall, I feel that having a part-time job while you are at school is an excellent idea and will help you in many ways. 

When a manageable and correct balance is found, a combination of extra-curricular activities, school work and a job can contribute positively to teenagers’ everyday lives (letting them see their full potential and have the opportunity to work to the best of their ability, as well as learning many new skills that will help them when they grow older and enter the world of work).