Working students: Able to juggle school and job?

The Star/Asia News Network, Malaysia

Students in Malaysia nowadays have the perfect justification for spending money, summed up in two magic words: I need. But with a monthly allowance of only RM80, "there's just not enough money!" they complain.

From Esprit to Top Shop, Coffee Bean to Starbucks, and with three nationwide mega sales carnivals a year, many are enticed to spend beyond their means (in most cases, their parents' means) on what they consider necessities, rather than luxuries.

"My 13-year-old daughter spends more than I do even when we are supposed to be window shopping," says financial analyst Margaret Tan.

To spare their parents the agony of paying for their indulgences, some students earn extra pocket money by working part-time. For 12 to 20 hours a week, these students take on all kinds of jobs, working as sales assistants, restaurant helpers, and telemarketers.

In many cases this is at a cost to their studies, as they may skip classes or fail to submit coursework on time due to work pressure. On the plus side, even working behind a bar or as a shop assistant is good experience, as it enables them to develop skills in dealing with people and situations.

Having the money to buy whatever she wants is what motivates Shelley Lim, 20, to work part-time.

"I recently purchased a digital camera which cost me RM470 and I'm saving up for a new Satria," she says. Apart from the money she earns, Shelley gets a monthly allowance of RM900 from her grandfather who also pays for her college fees.

Gone are the days when Shelley would spend evenings hanging out with friends at mamak stalls or going clubbing. She'd rather keep herself occupied by doing part-time work and earning money."The cover charge is RM25 or more at pubs, and drinks cost a lot too. I used up a lot of money just socializing, which was really bad.more healthy living this way," she says.

Since leaving school and through college, she has worked with six companies - Tanjong Golden Village, Seattle's Best Coffee (SBC), Stars Cafe, Timberland, Extreme Park, and Vital Factor, a market research company.

"I wanted to experience different kinds of jobs. My favorite was at SBC because the people there were friendly and fun to be with, which is what I look for in a job," says Shelley, a Sunway College student who aspires to be an accounts executive.

Her experience ranges from cooking and cleaning to selling apparel and conducting surveys on pet food.

On one occasion, part-time work affected her studies as she would get home dead tired about 2.30am every day. "I failed one subject and had to re-sit the paper, which cost me RM400! - an entire month's salary ... so I learnt my lesson."

Shelley now manages her time wisely, not leaving her assignments till the last minute.

According to her, many students are getting used to the idea of working while studying.

"They prefer working as promoters for beer companies. That's where the money is. They can earn up to RM180 per night," says Shelley, who wouldn't, however, take on such a job herself as she finds it degrading to wear skimpy clothing and entice people to drink beer.

There are all types of promotion work. Some promoters get paid RM350 for offering their hair for cutting and coloring to promote hair products. Students can also earn about RM80 a day handing out flyers and brochures to visitors at local fairs.

"Since these jobs are less frequent and yet rake in a lot of money, they are snapped up really fast," says Shelley.

Shopping centers are full of teenagers selling all kinds of products, from perfume to ginseng.

Some jobs for part-timers carry more responsibility than others. Working as a cinema cashier proved to be a bad experience for Shelley.

More than money and the experience she gains, Shelley says she looks forward to receiving staff perks from the company she works with."We get to purchase items with up to 55 percent discount and I've stocked up on clothes and shoes that will last me a long time," she adds.

Listeners of 94.5 Mix FM will recall hearing a cheerful voice over the radio informing listeners of her location and signing off with: "This is Jillian in the Mix Ford Splash Roadrunners, making a splash for Mix FM."

A few minutes later, a crowd of 60 or so excited fans or will appear at a said location, surrounding a bright yellow Roadrunner truck.

There you will find Melissa Jillian Au, 21, and her team of Special Events Personnel loaded with questions and freebies to give away.

"As an `ambassador' for Mix FM, my job is to create awareness and attract fans and listeners to our station," she says.

Managing both studies and work at the same time is "no sweat" for Melissa. She loves the combination and is always up to the challenge.

Having been a chaser before, she now enjoys being on the other side of the fence. She travels with two other colleagues to different parts of town to meet listeners and fans of the station.

"We are at three or four locations a day and we spend about 20 minutes at each location.a lot of teamwork plus it's great fun knowing that you're being chased," says Melissa who works up to 20 hours a week.

Like most concerned parents, her father had initially disapproved of her working part-time.

"He was afraid my studies would suffer but I wanted to prove to him that I could do it," says Melissa who agreed to stop work if her grades dropped.

Although the common perception is that students working part- time have the tendency to fail or perform below average in their studies, Melissa proves otherwise.

Currently pursuing a Bachelors of Communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Melissa has managed to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 (second class upper) in her final year.

Despite her busy schedule, Melissa finds time for tennis, swimming and reading. "I make time for my friends and family too although some still complain about my busy schedule."

Meeting all kinds of people in the course of her work has helped Melissa become more sociable. "It has helped up me open up a lot as I used to be an introvert, a quiet and shy person. Now I'm much the opposite," she says.

Excited about stepping into the working world, Melissa says the experience obtained through her part-time job has equipped her with valuable insights and tips on coping with work demands and standards.

With the job market becoming increasingly competitive, students are well aware of the difficulties of a getting a job upon graduation.

Inti College director of student services division and administrative affairs Sia Ah Hiok says part-time jobs related to the student's chosen career can be beneficial.

"It may serve as a hands-on classroom while providing students with extra allowances," she adds.

According to her, students who work part-time are more self- reliant, confident, and disciplined. "You also become more conscious of the way your money is spent, as you are able to experience how hard it is to earn even a small portion of it," she adds.

Although some colleges and universities offer on-campus part- time work, many students look for jobs outside.

"This goes to show that whether a student should or shouldn't work depends the individual and whether he is able to cope with two sets of responsibilities."