How do you get over the stress of falling behind because of part time jobs?

Because I find it very hard, and I haven’t even started yet. I’m not doing very well financially, and I want to start a part-time job to keep myself in uni, without burdening my mom. I’m about to start my second year of geodetic engineering next week and I plan on seeing my schedule before applying to some jobs around my uni, because I’m very scared that I’ll fall behind and fail exams. I don’t know how it works in other countries, but in mine it is very common to fail exams and very hard to pass them after that. Plus, you have to pay for every exam you have failed and have very little chances to retake them, otherwise you repeat the year. I’ve failed my first year practice exam and I’ve passes it two weeks ago. It was very stressful, I felt like I forgot everything in the two months of summer holiday, it made me depressed even. I don’t cry to my mom often, but this time it happened. I am not a perfectionist, but my mom struggles to keep me in uni because she wants me to have the education she couldn’t have so I don’t want to fail or have bad grades. Working part-time, I’m ready to change my lifestyle into a cycle of studying-working-self studying, but I fear that my employer won’t understand that I need to attend all my courses, and I don’t want to skip them and get on the wrong foot with my professors. Also, I know that professors at my uni don’t really care that we work, and they expect us to be there even if they change their schedules in one second. Have any of you had a similar experience? Was it stressful? Did you pass your exams and everything went as planned? I know it is not really a part time job question, it’s more like a “how have you handled it” question, but I really can’t sleep at night thinking how can I pull it all together, and my friends are not rich, but their parents are doing well, they don’t have to work and they don’t struggle like me and my mom so I can’t ask them for advice.

Reply 1

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by cath09

Hey, I completely understand how overwhelming this must feel, and it's great that you're already planning ahead and thinking about how to manage your schedule before diving into a part-time job. Balancing work and university can be really tough, especially when there’s financial pressure involved, but with the right support, it’s definitely possible.

It’s smart to wait until you see your schedule before committing to a job. Many students work part-time while studying, but the key is finding an employer who understands your priorities as a student. At the University of Salford, we have a Careers and Employability Service that helps students find flexible jobs that work around their studies, and I’m sure your university will have something similar. It might be worth reaching out to them for advice or to see if they can recommend student-friendly employers in your area.

Also, try not to worry about the professors not understanding. You’re not alone in this situation, and a lot of students face the same challenges. It’s important to communicate with them if you’re struggling with balancing things, and hopefully, they’ll be able to offer some flexibility. Just like at Salford, where we can get support from personal tutors, you might want to check if there are any support systems at your university, too.

It sounds like you’ve got a strong sense of responsibility and are determined to succeed, which will really help you push through these challenges. If you ever feel like things are getting too much, don't hesitate to reach out for support—whether that’s from your Uni, friends, or a mentor. You've already shown you can handle tough situations by passing your practice exam, so take it step by step, and don’t be too hard on yourself!

Good luck,
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative