Student survival guide: It pays to keep eyes focused on real job

Part-time work is essential for many, but should not get in the way of studies, says BOB PEARCE.

Heard the one about the student with an A Bursary who worked for four years at university and graduated with honours - at McDonald's?

Yeah, right. That's probably a campus myth, but there is a message there for those moving into the system for the first time.

Fees, loans and financial pressures from all sides have made part-time work essential for many, but you must never lose sight of the main purpose of tertiary education.

First priority should be to check your timetable and find out what tutorials and labs are compulsory.

The job hunt can start at Student Job Search (SJS). The Auckland headquarters are at Auckland University. Further south the base is at Waikato University.

Between them they service all the main tertiary institutions from Whangarei to Gisborne and the free service is available during term time throughout the area and year-round at some sites.

Once you are enrolled you can register with SJS and fill in a skill sheet to push any skills you may have to offer. The jobs are posted on boards in SJS offices on all campuses and on the website sjs.co.nz.

Getting a job can be a competitive business. Between March and September last year the Auckland office handled more than 10,000 clients and about 8500 job offers.

Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono, manager of the Auckland centre, says there is a heavy demand for part-time jobs.

"Ideally first-year students should not be working more than two days a week and for no more than 15 hours overall," she says. "But we have people doing 15-20 hours, which isn't ideal because they should be studying.

"The reality is that it has become necessary for many. But certainly first-year students should give themselves time to come to grips with their studies."

Many jobs in the Auckland area involve retail and the service industries in the central business district. Wages vary but SJS has a minimum of $8 an hour and the average is $10 to $13.

Hamilton manager Bryan Smith has seen a growth in community awareness of student skills. Tutoring of secondary school students can bring in $18 an hour.

Some of those starting tertiary education have had jobs since their school days and may be able to continue with them, but lecture and tutorial timing can force a change. And those moving to a new city have to develop contacts.

Guidelines to save time and energy:

* Buy a map and check job sites and travel possibilities. No point in taking on a job that costs you too much in travel time and expense for little return.

* Explore with your employer whether a one-off task can convert into a regular job.

* Don't blow a good job offer. SJS and fellow students depend on employer goodwill.

* Don't forget your education is your priority.

On the positive side experience in the workforce, whatever the job, is valuable. Student workers pop up all over the place. That guy unloading your bags at Hamilton Airport could be studying for an honours degree - and not in luggage.