Why do students work?
Students are interested in work for many positive reasons. It is an important step in their education and personal development.
The work environment often provides the opportunity for students to learn life and communication skills, reinforcing those they learn at school and home.
When students were asked what they like about working, they said:
- It's helps them become more independent and manage more responsibilities
"If you work it looks good later on. You've got something on your CV. It shows you understand teamwork, it builds character, you get a bigger idea of who you are and what you are."
- It's great for learning new skills, including leadership skills
"You get a buzz out of doing something; you can make a good coffee!"
"It makes you look responsible to your manager. If staff listen to you, then you are using your leadership skills."
- They can make new friends
- Older and younger
- New people and those from other schools
"I think work is good for making friends."
"If you go there and you like the people you work with, it is okay. You go out and do stuff. Not just as work colleagues but as friends."
- They learn how to deal with different types of people, including
- Co-workers
- Customers
- Employers and supervisors
"I get scared when all the boys come in from surfing. Sometimes, they are nice, but sometimes they are boneheads. It's good to have the self-confidence to deal with them."
- They interact with people they know in a new or different way
"At work there is this one girl who no-one likes at school but at work you have got to interact with her. It's good life skills to learn to work with people you wouldn't talk to otherwise."
- They get better at managing their own money
"You start working and you save up. I saved and bought my first Gameboy and I thought I was the coolest kid in the world.."
"When it's my own money, I tend not to spend it so freely. Now that it's my money, I value it a lot more."
"I save half and put it in a separate bank account. The other half is for me."
- It can help their future career ambitions or plans
"I love my job because I want to work with kids. So this gives me the chance to do it without having a degree. So, it's not really like work."
- They interact with people they know in a new or different way
"At work there is this one girl who no-one likes at school but at work you have got to interact with her. It's good life skills to learn to work with people you wouldn't talk to otherwise."
- They get better at managing their own money
"You start working and you save up. I saved and bought my first Gameboy and I thought I was the coolest kid in the world. My parents never bought me anything extra."
"When it's my own money, I tend not to spend it so freely. Now that it's my money, I value it a lot more."
"I save half and put it in a separate bank account. The other half is for me."
- It can help their future career ambitions or plans
"I love my job because I want to work with kids. So this gives me the chance to do it without having a degree. So, it's not really like work."