Improving your Study Habits and Business Intelligence at the Same Time
As an increasing number of business students undertake part-time work, it is important to remember that these two aspects of student life are interrelated. In other words, what you learn in school will help you develop in the business world, and experiences at work shape your understanding of concepts that you study. Finding enough time for revision can be hard enough, so a great way to put your knowledge into practice is by applying what you know to situations at work.
It almost doesn’t matter what kind of job you have. For example, every business has a product. If you are stocking shelves in a store while you complete a degree or diploma, think about the 4P’s of marketing. What is unique about the product you are restocking? Is the price reasonable compared to its competitors? Has the product been advertised effectively and placed in a noticeable area of the store? Providing critical answers to these questions will broaden your understanding of basic marketing principles.
Every business also has a boss. If you work as a cleaner while studying, how does your manager explain the tasks that you need to complete? Do they adopt an autocratic style and command you to clean rooms or do they take on a more consultative approach and ask for your input on the most efficient method of cleaning? Can they delegate efficiently to all staff members or do some employees end up with a greater workload? How do they motivate you? Again, if you can apply what you’ve learnt to these aspects of your work, you are on your way to becoming a successful manager yourself.
The same principle can be flipped and used in the classroom. After learning something, think about how it relates to your own work experience. Use these experiences as a basis for further questioning—suggest to your lecturer or trainer that some ideas are useful to you practice, but other aspects might only apply to certain business or situations. When it comes time to complete assignments, find research articles that support your argument on that topic.
Your part-time work, in short, should not just be a way for you to get money. Think about your work as an opportunity to practice what you’ve learnt, and use your work experience as the basis for your understanding of ideas in class. This way of thinking will reap rewards in both your academic and professional life.
Andrew Kelly
Academic Learning Support Coordinator at Kent Institute Australia
