Keeping up with the rest of the world, Bangladeshi university students now juggle part-time jobs in conjunction with their academic responsibilities and this is beneficial in many ways. If students start building their CVs during their undergrad, this experience will help them stay ahead of their competition, build their network, and impress recruiters after graduating. Moreover, if students do jobs relevant to their respective degrees, the practical experience gained from the workplaces will also help in their academic lives. Lastly, some extra pocket money always helps.
Types of jobs available: Depending on the skill set, if one knows where to look, there is quite a wide range of part-time roles for one to do, including copywriter, content writer, social media manager, video editor, graphics designer, etc.
Start-ups: Dhaka's start-up scenario is quite up-and-coming right now. These new start-ups are always looking for students to join their forces. Some of the start-ups students can keep an eye on are MyAlice, Cramstack, 10 Minute School, Kalke, Thrive Edtech, etc. Start-ups generally have a fast-paced work environment, so if an undergrad student is interested in exploring innovative ideas and is okay with working under pressure, start-up could be the perfect choice.
Marketing agencies: People who enjoy crafting creative content and have a lot of imaginative ideas will feel right at home working in marketing agencies. "Working in a digital marketing agency has assisted me to grow as a person and explore the various opportunities which it offers in creative fields through excellence, innovation, and rapid development and changes," said Mim Binte Shariar, junior executive of Content & Planning at Magnito Digital.
Lie To Eye, Purplebot Digital, Magneto Digital, Scratchboard are some of the many marketing agencies one can check out.
Grassroots NGOs: Bangladesh has a promising grassroots NGO network that is mainly made up of students. Quite a few of these NGOs have even achieved international recognition and work with local chapters of international NGOs. If a student is interested in the development sector, these grassroots NGOs can serve as an excellent starting point to get a feel of the industry and build up a network. Some NGOs that can be looked into are Oroddho Foundation, Youth Policy Forum, AIESEC, Kotha, and TransEnd.
One slight downside of working in these NGOs is that the work is primarily voluntary. However, this is compensated by the feeling that comes with the realisation of contribution in making the world a better place. "When I joined TransEnd, my sole purpose was to contribute at least a little bit to bring positive change in the society. Little did I know that something much bigger was waiting for me. Over a year, I have become acquainted with some wonderful people who are now essential to my life. TransEnd has helped me learn and unlearn many things and has served as a medium for me to grow." remarks Rezwana Masnun Saima, a second-year student in the Political Science department of Dhaka University who is working as the Communications & PR Head of TransEnd.
Skills required for the jobs: Fluency in English and Bangla is essential. If one wants to stand out, one can learn basic software, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, MS Excel, etc. There are numerous detailed tutorials available online that can help aspiring students to get started. If students are willing to invest a little, they can purchase courses from UpSkill, Udemy, etc. Since these are essentially student jobs, students don't need to worry too much about being an expert.
It may take a while to find a job. Instead of feeling disheartened, it is important to learn from the mistakes and keep trying. Maintaining a job alongside studies can appear a little too overwhelming. This is especially true for exam seasons. Learning to prioritise and manage the time is integral to helping the students get through these periods. It is of utmost importance to remember that academics should always be the top priority.
