It is common in Bangladesh for the Human Resources (HR) Department of a company or any other organisation, while recruiting employees, to complain about lack of commercial knowledge among graduates as well as skill-experiences which will help them stand out from the crowd. It appears that combining work and his or her CGPA (Cumulative Grade Points Average) can be high-priced experiences needed to excel in professional life.
There goes a saying: "The job is not a living deer that you will have to rush for it, but a golden deer that you will have to achieve." If one is eligible to get the golden deer, then will anyone else have the ability to take it over? Many foreign PhD students do part-time jobs in restaurants or super-shops abroad so that they could maintain their educational expenses. This sense is found among foreigners while they study in schools or colleges. Their education continues in this way. According to the US Department of Labour, 50 per cent of American teenagers hold informal jobs, such as babysitting or yard work, by the age 12. By the time they graduate, 80 per cent will have held a part-time job.
Doing something extra, besides pursuing a degree, is like a wrongdoing to many parents in our country. Those who undertake something even after facing family fences, have to undergo some bad experiences. Although not every parent agrees that the potential costs of work outweigh benefits, majority of them believe that holding a job could distract their children from their studies. They start to say: "Money can make you greedy. As a result, your mind will not go to your reading table." Some parents might say: "What? Will my son be labouring?" But where's the problem if one studies in the university and works in Agora or in a restaurant for four hours, which carries fewer hours per week than a full-time job.
Students studying in universities in our country may earn Tk 30,000 per month from private tuition, but in the job market, the experience an employer prefers selecting a candidate is zero. Part-time jobs in any company will give one recognition and better skills as employees have to measure out their time. Trade Fair in January, Book Fair in February, Independence Day Fair in March, and Baishakhi Fair in April are held in our country. The money one will earn taking on jobs in these fairs can be used for bearing educational costs and at the same time, one can save for non-essential purchases from it. Students getting into part-time jobs and earning money can get lessons on spending their hard-earned money wisely. Apart from these, if someone acquires experiences of part-time works in these stalls, the benefits are typically greater than the amount of a paycheck.
Students, who are holding part-time jobs as salesmen in any stall of the ongoing trade fair, s/he will have better commercial awareness than their counterparts. While studying in universities, the experience of doing part-time jobs in any sales-oriented shop at Dhaka International Trade Fair can certainly play an effective role in developing future salesmanship skills. They can earn money and gain experience in the workplaces that will be attractive to future employers after graduation.
"I manage my time efficiently, bear my costs and save money out of my income. I think that I am more organised and efficient than before," says Jiaur Hasan, a third-year student working in KFC.
"I had no experience before taking on the selling job here at Dhaka Trade Fair. I want to be accustomed to the professional world, which will make it easier for me to get full-time job after my graduation," says Mahamuda Yasmin, a final-year student of business studies working at Dhaka International Trade Fair to gain experience.
"There are huge scopes for girls who are studying in different colleges and universities. If social security is ensured, then girls will be better in comparison with boys in part-time jobs," says Niaz Ahmed, CEO of Corporate Ask.
In this way, students gain important introductory experience in businesses and begin networking with those in that field, which will look more impressive to potential employers. Having a part-time job shows that the student understands the work environment and work well as part of a team.
Taking part-time job helps individuals earn a good letter of recommendation which may make someone from layman to move ahead faster in career race. Students taking on jobs on top of their studies will have less free time than non-working students and they have less time to engage in risky behaviour. Improving communication, learning how to handle people, developing interview skills and filling out job applications or resume will surely help their chances of gaining employment after graduation.
The idea of planning is really important. There is a word in English: "If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail." It is suicidal to set out journey to an unknown destination. Ask yourself: what would you like to be in life? Where do you want to see yourself after five years? What type of comment and blessing will you expect from people around you if you die tomorrow? Make plans.
The pen was discovered to write and if someone gouge out his eyes with it, then the pen will not be responsible for it. Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin are blessings of modern technology. Right now one cannot move forward without them. So, use them correctly and wisely to find a part-time job. One should not waste his/her time and not let others waste time. Do something extra than others. Always remember, the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is only the 'extra.'
The writer is a young author.
shamimwahed@gmail.com