How to Juggle Multiple Jobs After Uni

You graduate, armed with a degree and just a little bit of debt. The world’s your oyster. You apply for graduate job after graduate job. You email companies of interest and, after a bit of time, you hand out CVs in your local town. Within a month you’re working part-time at a bar and part-time at a shop.

This way of working is becoming more common, and is being referred to as ‘the gig economy’. This is defined as “a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs”.

Uni prepared you for referencing, short-hand and where to look for the best graduate scheme. But did university prepare you for working until past midnight every weekend and just the occasional day off? You’re a graduate with at least a couple of jobs and trying to keep it all under control. Trying being the operative word.

So how can you healthily juggle multiple jobs after university?

Keep applying for what you want to do long-term

The most important thing is to never lose sight of what you actually want to do. Even if it’s been nearly a year since graduation or over three since your last exam, keep applying. The Muse explain “it’s important to keep the end goal in mind.”

Set yourself a goal of how many jobs you want to apply for each week. Maybe make it one a day or ten a week. Even one or two a week will ensure the ball keeps rolling. It’s easy to forget you have a dream job to chase after when you’re leaving home early and getting in late.

The long days and endless hours will feel far easier if you’re still keeping the long-term goal in the front of your mind.

Make the most of your handful of jobs

A sure way to feel on top of it all is to find a way to enjoy your jobs. Throw yourself into each job and learn what you can. Any experience is good experience. Your jobs will give you all sorts of experience that will stand out to future employers and recruiters. There are plenty of reasons why the roles you’re working right now will benefit you.

There is plenty to be learnt in any kind of job. The Telegraph insist the best place to develop soft skills is “out in the real world.” The value of soft skills shouldn’t be overlooked. Your character, problem-solving skills and conscientiousness should be put soft skills at the front, according to Forbes. These are traits that will make your job juggling feel worthwhile.

As well as making the most out of your roles, make the most out of your time with your colleagues. This time might be time you look back on in years to come as a fond and brilliant time. Enjoy working with your colleagues and try and schedule social events with them when you can. It’s vital to try and enjoy your time job juggling.

Make healthy choices

Eat well, drinks lots of water, exercise and, when you have an evening off, get an early night. When you’re working demanding jobs that require being on your feet all the time, you’ll find the needed energy when you’re making healthy choices. Take days off when you’re ill, or you’ll only get worse.

Ensure you’re being treated properly

As you do all the graft, your employers may try to take advantage of you. Nothing will make your multiple jobs worse than feeling like you’re not being taken seriously. Here are a few things you should keep on top of in order to keep your bosses held accountable:

• Keep a track of all of the hours you have worked and make sure you check your pay is correct once you’re paid.
• If your bosses put you on to work extra hours that you didn’t sign up for, don’t work them!
• Make sure you’re getting the breaks you deserve and require legally. You will definitely be thankful you’re getting them as someone working many jobs.

Say when enough is enough

Juggling multiple jobs after uni is always going to be a slog. You want to get out of your overdraft, learn to drive, buy a car and pay your parent’s rent. All the while you want to save and have a social life when your many rotas allow it. That doesn’t mean it’s the best idea to work as many hours as humanly possible if you really don’t have to.

If it all gets a bit too much, it’s wise to quit one of your jobs. Or at the very least, lessen your hours. Even if it takes a few months, the hard work will catch up on you in a less than healthy way.

Ultimately, juggling a few jobs requires keeping a close eye on yourself. You’ll only become more and more run down if you don’t look after yourself; physically and mentally. If you want to work as many hours as you possibly can then stay healthy and enjoy the ride!

Kathryn Terry writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs. Check out Kathryn’s Twitter, Instagram and blog to delve into her mind further.