Getting a job in high school is great for so many reasons. It gives students something to write college essays about, a basis for their resume, shows colleges that they are motivated and hardworking (and teaches lots of those skills), helps them learn how to divvy up their time wisely and gets them a little spending money that they can use however they want!

I recently started working at Saint Bernard, and I love my job. I have great coworkers, not to mention one of my best friend works there, and I am always busy so the time flies.

Now that I have been working for a few months, I feel that I have learned a few things that have helped me to balance my school work and my job.

1. Do not take on more than you can handle.

When you get a job, you have to make sure you are not taking on too much. It is okay to ask your boss for fewer hours. As a student, your boss knows that you are busy with school and extracurricular activities. This being said, if you see your grades slipping or you are feeling stressed out, you should not work as much. Your boss will be understanding about your work, but if your assignments are not done, your teachers do not care if you were at work and they will not give you extensions. Remember school comes first.

2. Do not be afraid to talk to your boss.

You need to be comfortable asking your boss questions. Know that every single employee, even the adults, have to ask for things. This also includes having your boss like you. When you are at work, don’t worry about school and do your job. No boss likes an employee that does not get their job done well.

3. Do not say you are free every day of the week.

Give yourself a day or two that you say you are not available to work.  I suggest Wednesdays because that will break up your week nicely. If you say you are available every day, your boss will schedule you more often than not. This also gives you a day that you will be able to schedule appointments and tutoring sessions, if necessary.

4. Use a planner.

Write down your homework in a planner, so you can visualize what you have to accomplish that night. Seeing your homework, instead of trying to remember it, can help you realize how much you have to do, and how you can best use your time. Write down the dates that you have tests and quizzes as soon as you are made aware of them. That will help you to see when you have to start preparing. Lastly, write down your work schedule in your planner as it is released. This way you will not miss a day of work, and it makes it easier to plan when you might have to get ahead. Which could mean starting to study for tests a day earlier, or reading ahead in your English book.

5. Schedule your day so you are finished with your stuff early enough to get a good night sleep.

This is simple. Do not save all of your work for after school. This is the perfect setup to not finish your homework, not get enough sleep and tank your grades.

6. Utilize your time at school.

Although lunch can be a nice break in your day, if you know that you have work that night and a lot to study for, go to the library. It is open during lunch so people can get things done. Do not pack up early in your classes; work till the bell rings. The bell will ring whether or not you are packed up, and just waiting for the bell to ring is a waste of time. If your teachers are nice enough to give you extra time in class to get things done, use it to your advantage because it can cut down on your homework load significantly. Last but not least, do not use the excuse “I’m not going to start it because I don’t have time to finish it.” I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have two half assignments as homework rather than two unstarted ones.