How to effectively balance studies and temporary job

Ashleay: Hello and welcome to the “In Your Interest!” podcast. My name is Ashleay and today I'm joined by Raphaëlle Slattery, Talent Acquisition Advisor. With the start of the school year just around the corner, she's here to talk about work/study balance and the importance and relevance of hiring students. Hello Raphaëlle. How are you?

Raphaëlle: Hi, Ashley. I'm doing very well. It's a pleasure to be here today.

Ashleay: It's great to have you. So, to start off, why is it important to consider a student job or internship during your studies?

Raphaëlle: So, first of all, I want to start by sharing a small statistic with you. According to a study conducted by the Université Laval, 81% of students already hold a job in their field of study before graduation.

Ashleay: Wow!

Raphaëlle: Yeah. So most students understand the importance of holding a student job during their studies. But if you're not yet convinced, here are a few advantages. A student job or internship offers the opportunity to gain real-world work experience. This can help develop practical skills and better prepare you for the job market after graduation. It's also a great opportunity to develop your network and forge links with industry professionals, which can open doors for the future.

Ashleay: Juggling work and studies can, I'm sure, be a challenge. What advice would you give to students?

Raphaëlle: Oh yeah, it can be quite a challenge. I would say that the key to success lies in good planning. It's essential to establish a realistic schedule that takes into account both work and study hours. Communication and transparency between you and your employer throughout the study session will be key. Share your timetable. Identify times when you know you'll be able to work and do the same for your study times and courses. It's also really important to remember that the employer has a role to play in this, and to make companies aware of the reality of young professionals who pursue their studies while working. Companies can help you reconcile work and study by offering flexible working hours or a work from home arrangement, for example. This will enable you to better manage your time, your workload and your stress, as well as ease the pressures of maintaining balance between your professional and academic responsibilities.

Ashleay: And what advice would you give to a student looking to do an internship in their field?

Raphaëlle: I would definitely advise them to start early. Don't delay your search for an internship. For some specific sectors and companies, recruitment takes place several months in advance, sometimes even more than a year in advance. It's important to get informed and start your search as soon as possible so as not to miss the boat. I would also suggest you identify your objectives and target the companies and organizations where you'd like to do your internship. This will help you get ready in time. You can even sign up for their job alerts on their career websites.

Ashleay: Yeah, very good idea; simple but useful.

Raphaëlle: Yeah, really. You can also use your social networks and take part in career events on campus. Finally, the pandemic is over and face-to-face recruiting activities have resumed on campuses. Get out there and meet the talent acquisition advisors in person. Another tip would be to keep an open mind. Don't look for the perfect job for your first internship. Internships allow you to develop and see what you like and don't like. It's probably not the job you'll have for the rest of your life. Take me, for example. During university, I worked my student job at iA. I then had to look for an internship and was privileged to be able to join the Talent Acquisition team. I've been on this team ever since, and I learned so much from being a technician on the team before becoming an advisor. I'm still at the beginning of my career, so I'm excited to keep learning new things and taking on new responsibilities, which will help me grow as a professional.

Ashleay: I love that, Raphaëlle; we're glad to have you with us. And if there are companies out there that are still hesitant to hire students and interns, what would you tell them?

Raphaëlle: Yeah, and that's totally normal.

Ashleay: Right.

Raphaëlle: But, first of all, I would say that they're really missing out on a great opportunity. Students and interns are our future leaders. It's vital to consider them. As I mentioned a bit earlier, the vast majority of students will remain with the same company after their internship or student job, making it a great way to contribute to your talent pool. Also, students are often on the lookout for new market trends and are very innovative. So, in the end, I'd say don't miss out on this great opportunity to hire the next generation. Make sure you have a clear and structured student and intern talent acquisition process to facilitate your recruitment. And finally, think of them as your own employees, not just temporary resources. Invest in them because, though you may not realize it right away, you may have just hired one of your future leaders.

Ashleay: Well, that concludes today's episode. Thank you, Raphaëlle, for explaining the importance of finding a job in your field, even if you're still in school. And thank you to all our listeners. Please don't hesitate to drop us a line if you have any questions. See you next week. Loved this podcast? Want to know more about economic news? Follow our “In Your Interest!” podcast, available on all platforms, visit the economic news page on ia.ca or follow us on social media.