Why getting a job at university was the best decision I made

Deadlines, societies and nights at the bar, juggling each part of university life can be hard enough as it is and when you have a student loan, why add another ball to the mix?

They’re like another family

In my first year, I spent all my time in my room missing home. I didn’t have friends really until the second term. When my parents told me I needed to get a job to help fund my maintenance for my second year, my anxiety crippled me with fear. However, it turned out to be one of the best things I did throughout my degree.

I applied for jobs wherever they were being advertised, not putting myself down or writing myself off before giving it a chance. Even if you get turned down, it is still a life lesson for future interviews and applications. After searching for a month, I could not have been more surprised when I heard back that I had been accepted to join the team at Jack Wills.

Going out together is always a lot of fun

Although it was daunting at first, I was quickly welcomed into a group of people who were all friendly, chatty and outgoing. These qualities soon rubbed off on me and I could feel my confidence begin to grow. Over a year on, I do not recognise the girl who spent all day inside watching documentaries, too afraid to go and socialise. My colleagues encouraged me to be myself and enjoy life through taking an interest in my degree, hobbies and aspirations. A day at Jack is never dull. We are always laughing, discussing current topics, planning nights out and trying on clothes. I am also fortunate enough to have a management team who are down to earth and want the staff, many of whom are students, to give ideas on events that should be run to reach out to the community.

Not only has my job taught me the value of customer service, how to start conversations effectively, work in a large corporation and brand awareness, but it has also taught me not to judge a book by its cover. Many people assume that the staff at a company like Jack Wills are all air heads who are too focussed on their looks and the appearance of others to truly care about their customers. This notion could not be more incorrect. I have not met such a lovely, genuine group of people in my life. We have regular customers who enjoy coming in as they get honest opinions and alternatives to outfits, staff who they can talk to and who will remember the events going on in their lives.

Bank Holiday fun

So not only have I learnt vital life lessons from my job, but the group of friends I have made allow me to separate me life at university to my life outside. I am able to unwind from the stress of dissertations at work as I laugh and converse with my friends and customers. Without the chance that Jack Wills gave me, my entire experience at university would be completely different, as I doubt I would have had the confidence to put myself forward for other things, such as societies and committee positions. That is why I urge everyone to get a part time job whilst studying. It not only looks amazing on your CV and creates networks for the future, but makes you a far more rounded, confident individual.