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Work WISE
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PRASSANA SRINIVASAN on the trend of youngsters taking up part time jobs
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VIKRAM, AT 18, belongs to this breed of enthusiastic youngsters who crave to take on the world. Packing his office uniform in a trendy backpack and grabbing a sandwich that he's made himself, Vikram dashes off to work. Barely out of school, he is already working. "I just could not sit idle at home after my Board exams. I had to do something to keep myself occupied. So I took up a job at Pizza Hut," he says putting on his Pizza Hut hat.
Vikram belongs to the generation that precisely knows what it wants and what it takes to succeed. "After all, life is about making choices and you are never going to learn anything unless you go out and explore the possibilities. So, I started reading the `Situations Vacant' column in the classified ad pages," says Anitha, who works as a marketing consultant for a private firm. For the commerce student, the decision to take up the job was entirely hers and she believes it will contribute immensely to her career in a competitive world.
"I know there are many who are smarter than I am and I need to keep updating my skills if I have to stand out in a crowd," says Nisha, an MBA student. Having started out as a sales assistant in a lifestyle showroom "to develop communication skills," she now works full time in the same place as floor supervisor. "The skills I learnt as a part-timer helped me cope. With hard work and the right qualifications, I managed to get a full time job."
With the trend of part-time summer jobs catching on, there are professional employment consultants who help students find the right kind of job. "Today, students are aware that mere academic excellence will not help. Also, they are particular about spending quality time no matter what they do," says Aravind from a city-based employment consultancy. But according to Manoj from Student Concept, it is all about gaining hands-on work experience even as you go to college. "It changes your attitude and helps you focus on what you want to achieve in life."
While he says the purpose is to educate and empower the student community with necessary life skills, he admits that it requires a lot of commitment to take up work while you are studying.
"It meant a lot of sacrifice. I would go to work early in the morning, then attend college and go back to work in the evening. My friends say that I missed out on the small joys of college life, but I have no regrets as I have learnt a lot, more than many of my classmates," says Varun Kumar, who started working part time soon after he finished school. "Also being part of Student Concept meant that I was going to be among students, so I still had the time for movies and chatting with buddies."
Most students say working part time makes one independent and confident. "I got my first mobile phone with the money I earned. It made me realise that with hard work I can achieve whatever I want," adds Varun.
Are part time jobs a chance to make more money? "It is not all about making that extra bit of pocket money, it is about the experience — the opportunity to represent an organisation, handle people, take up responsibilities and improve your personality," says Divya Jacob who has done various part time jobs right through her college days.
Also the attitude of parents is changing. "My parents visited the recruitment agency before I took up the job. Their initial apprehension gave way to encouragement and now they are so glad that I am not dependent on them for everything," says Krithika who now works as a receptionist in an education centre.
Dushyanthan who works in Cookieman feels, "It is a healthy sign that our generation has learnt the value of money. Interestingly, most students have no qualms about doing what are conventionally dismissed as `odd' jobs. Also most jobs offered to us are gender neutral."
Another encouraging trend is that in most cases, it is the students who decide to take up such assignments. "They know what they are doing and succeed in convincing their parents," adds Manoj
Swank eateries, lifestyle stores, event management-related work, modelling, counter sales, amusement parks and television anchors are some of the areas where students work part time. However, as Sharmila, a city based event management consultant, puts it, "positive attitude, good people skills and ability to highlight strengths and underplay weaknesses make these youngsters exceptional in what they choose to do. And it looks like there is nothing to stop their spirit."
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