We all come from different backgrounds and cultures. I came from India, from a middle-class family, and part-time work was never really a thing. In India, we live in close-knit communities supported by families. Education was prioritized and fully funded by my family, so I never had to think about working while studying.
When I came here, I was very selective. I did not want to work just anywhere. I wanted the perfect job. But sadly, there is no perfect job, not in part-time work and not even in full-time jobs. There is no such thing as perfection, to be honest. It is just about doing what you can, where you can, with whatever you have. That was my biggest realization at the University of Surrey. Making the most out of the current situation. But to realize this, I had to go through a few things, which I will be sharing in this blog.
My friend Yash, who was really active from the start of uni, landed a job within the university as a cleaner and maintenance operative. I was impressed. I was looking for a job too, but working within the university meant I did not have to go anywhere far and could just work. So I went to the office with another friend, and we got the job. It was an early morning shift with lots of heavy-duty work. I was not prepared for it, but the timing suited me, so I worked. Slowly, I realized that I would not be able to do this for long, but I still pushed through.
Luckily or unluckily, my bad sweeping got noticed hahaha and they asked me not to come anymore. And just like that, I was again looking for jobs. Then another opportunity came up to work as a harvest helper in a university-based project for sustainable agriculture. I was keen to join because it was related to my field. Since I was doing my master’s in it, I just went for it. Yash again was the one who informed me about that opportunity. It was temporary work, so once it ended, I was jobless again. The reason was simple. I was being too selective with part-time jobs.
I kept trying to find work that suited my taste, but I was not finding anything. One day, I shared my situation with my friends Babandeep and Vaishali. They both explained to me the importance of grabbing opportunities. Everyone had told me the same thing before, but something about the way they said it, with genuine care, made me listen.
This time, I was determined. I went out again, resume in hand, giving it to every place in Guildford and even in Woking. Luckily, when I went to Woking, there was a vacancy and I got the job there as a kitchen porter. Not fancy, not what I wanted, but good enough. And that is what I finally realized. Sometimes good enough is enough.
Working part-time made me feel independent for the first time. I was earning my own money, making my own decisions, and figuring things out on my own. It made me more responsible. I had to show up, do my job, and make sure everything was done properly. Everyone should work part-time at least once because you learn a lot. You meet people, you make friends, and you see life from a different perspective.
One thing I really liked was the hourly wage system. It is fair. You work and you get paid. No extra politics, no favoritism, just simple effort and earnings. It maintains equality and fairness, and I respect that a lot.
This whole experience taught me that waiting for the perfect thing is a waste of time. Instead, just start somewhere, take what you get, and keep moving forward. If you do not like a job, keep looking for something better, but do not sit and wait for the perfect opportunity to just fall into your lap. Because it will not.
