Part-time Work Arrangements - Essay Example

Today in this competitive world competition is rising. Sustenance has become difficult. With growth in population people especially students are looking for part time jobs. Students prefer working along with studies as they get some income. Part time job is “a type of employment where people have to work for few hours than full time and is usually less than 35 hours”. (Hinkle, Pointer & Emanuel, 2009) This is largely favoured by students. There are many benefits students get on account of it. Still there are people who raise their voice against it highlighting the demerits. Research also presents a mixed feeling. Part time job also has an effect on students coming from other countries There has been an increase in the number of part time jobs. Companies hire students for this as it helps them to have an employee. This provides the students a chance to prove his mettle. Some arguments presented both in favour and against giving mixed feelings. A research presents that “part time jobs is helping companies to prepare for the changes they are going to face and also make them realize the talented students who can be hired in the future.” (Lloyd, 2006) Working with the company provides students with an understanding of the culture and ways to perform the task thus helping them and employer in the future. This has made many students and company to look this way. Another study shows that “part time jobs give an opportunity to students to develop their skills like professionalism, punctuality, flexibility and so on and also presents the same to the employer which helps them prepare strategies accordingly”. (Keen, 2007) Thus, this proves a boon for both. It helps them to decide their actions and combat strategies accordingly. Despite this there is propaganda against it. It is affecting the studies as students are losing concentration. They are not able to pay attention. This is shown by a research. A research shows that “part time job affects the well being of households especially females as the job is low paid and has uncertainty regarding the tenure which is affecting the well being and pattern of life”. (Warren, 2008) This is creating a negative sentiment and has made many people move against it. Another research in this direction supports the above finding. It says that “students especially females are more affected as part time jobs even tempt the married and it hurts the bringing of their children”. (Connolly & Gregory, 2007) This has affected their personal life. It has created a negative feeling. Despite this still students are looking for jobs. The advantages that students have both local students and international students are Improve communication skills: Working on the job improves communication. This is true for international students. Students who come from abroad have different language so “working part time gives them an opportunity to improve their language.” (McQuarrie, 2009) They come in touch with local people helping them to improve their communication skill. Even local students get the same opportunity. Work in an environment helps them to build long career. It helps to improve their communication which bears fruit in long run. Leadership Skills: It helps to develop this skill. This works for both international and local students. It helps “students to develop their skills as they come in touch with people and employees”. (McQuarrie, 2009) It gives them an opportunity to hone “their leadership skills and make them realize the areas which they need to work upon to develop as better managers”. (McQuarrie, 2009) These help students as they get an opportunity early in their career to work upon. Employers are also benefited as they get the right talent. It gives them an opportunity and understands students who have skills as a result helping the entire system and building better leaders. Interpersonal Skill: This is vastly improved because of job. Students who are working “gets an opportunity to interact with people which helps to work on their interpersonal skills” (Hansen, 2008) and the way they talk and make task done. Students learn to manage conflicts as people have different views. Working with others helps them in the long run. Develop team work: It helps to build team skills. Students working in a group realize that importance of it and also “deal with different people as people have different perception and thinking thus helping them to work and build these skills”. (Hansen, 2008) This helps students to be able to handle pressure in real working area. It also helps them realize area of improvement. Culture Integration: This helps international students the most. They come from a different culture. According to Hansen, 2007, working with locals help them to learn the culture there and understand their thinking pattern. It helps them when they work in the same country in the future. This even helps them in studies. They are better able to understand the culture which results in building a good circle. This develops the international students to meet expectations. Opportunity to earn: This is the main reason people pursue it. “Students get an opportunity to earn as well as learn thus helping them to meet their pocket expenses and also help some who have to manage their tuition expenses”. (Hansen, 2007) It gives students a chance to look after their finance. Gain Experience: This impacts a student’s development the most. Students pick up valuable learning. For example students who want to become a teacher can give part time tuitions and learn the integrities and things which will help him improve the teaching experience and gain more students. Thus we see that it helps the students. It helps both the locals and international ones. It helps to develop all areas. It is also presented in the diagram below (Muller, 2009) Despite this there are some disadvantage related to it. They are Lack of focus: Working affects students. “They lose their concentration and focus as they become exhausted after work” (Martin, 2006) thus affecting their studies and also make them skip classes thus creating a negative effect. This is a worry as their main aim goes wayward. This affects them in the future as they lose the interest and even leave studies midway. Limited opportunity for growth: Some students also see it this way. Students who work part time get acclimatised to that type of working which “results in a continued desire to work in the same environment thus affecting their desire to work for long period”. (Joseph, 2008) This is affecting their future as students lose their interest. They are happy with the same work. It limits their opportunity to grow which even hampers the company’s growth prospect Less identification: According to Joseph, working part time often results in students taking the onus and making himself recognised in the organisation within the work force might affects his motivation level as the work is not often realised thus hampering his progress for the future. This is affecting the morale for future work. They feel discontent and prefer not to work. This is affecting growth for them Risk of losing morale: Students have to bear the brunt for this. There has been situation when “students despite for their efforts are not realised and are not considered a part of the organisation” (John, 2005) which affects the morale and their enthusiasm to work reduces. This has some bigger effect. The student might even lose his interest in the same field. He might want to switch the stream. This affects his learning process and confuses him. Thus we see how it affects the students. The learning for international students is something to watch. International students have an advantage. Government also works for them. It helps to improve the image of the country. International students are able to know the fundamentals. There are many laws for it. Government role has grown. Even the “US immigration law for international students helps them to work after they have worked for a year as part time”. (Connors, 2007) It helps them to get a job. This has helped international students. Students as a result of this are looking at this opportunity. Apart from this international students have other benefits. It helps them to learn the culture. Working in a new place helps them as they are able to understand the culture. It prepares them for future when they look for a job they understand it better. Even companies find them easier to hire those. They are acquainted to the environment. International students also get the benefit as they have opportunity to work at two places. They can go back to their home country or work in a different environment. There are still people who are against it. This is because local people are finding it difficult to get a job. International students take those jobs which affects the prospects of local. This is making government also frame rules against it. In spite of this part time job is on an increase. This helps students to learn. I also feel that students should work along with studies. It develops them by creating a positive environment. It creates a feeling in them to work and inculcates in them the skill to manage both i.e. studies and work. Working helps them to pick up new things on the field. By applying their learning they understand it better and also know areas to work on. It helps them to gain on field knowledge which can be used by companies while hiring. Working also makes students know their interest area. It helps students to realize his potential. Thus it creates for them a potential to grow and look for future growth. Reference Connolly S & Gregory M, 2007, “Part time employment can be a life time setback”, Discussion Paper No 3101, Germany Connors M, 2007, “Job search for international students”, Northern Illinois University Hinkle Y, Pointer & Emanuel H, 2009, “part time employment”, Thomson Reuter Business Hansen R, 2007, “What do employers really want”, Quintessential Carriers electronic newsletter, Joseph P, 2008, “Part time work arrangements”, Manitoba Civil Service Commission John M, 2005, “Quality part time work in local government”, Municipal Association of Victoria, Australia Keen M, 2007, “Characteristics of part time jobs”, Career Planning Associate, State University of New York Lloyd S, 2006, “Benefits of part time jobs”, Journal of Industrial & Commercial training, Volume 14, Issue 10, page 338-339, MCB UP Ltd, Martin G, 2006, “Advantage and disadvantage of part time job”, Financial Express Muller G, 2009, “Part time job”, Buskerud University College McQuarrie S, 2009, “Employee traits that employer looks”, Ezine Articles, Warren T, 2008, “The economic wellbeing of female part timers in Europe”, Volume 10, Issue 5, page 737-762, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, Read More