When it comes to scoring the career of your dreams, the goal posts have shifted considerably over the last decade or so. Many employers now require "relevant work experience" gained either through a suitable placement or internship. Millennials, therefore, are the first generation that has really needed to figure out which sectors and career paths that they are interested in sooner rather than later in order to gain experience in these areas and make themselves stand out to prospective employers. With recent statistics indicating that 60% of internships lead to a job offer, landing an intern position can provide a fast-track to that dream career.

But with the ever-increasing cost of living, how does this new wave of interns support themselves financially? Taking on some part-time work  is certainly a popular way to bring in that all-important extra cash, but managing your time might feel like a bit of a balancing act. Here we bring you some tips on how to ace that internship while working on the side:

Choose wisely

Try to find a part-time job that fits around your internship hours. Maybe morning shifts work best for you, or work that is solely on evenings and weekends. Dealing with too many shift clashes will lead to undue stress, so schedule your time! Let your employer know that while you are enjoying your internship, you’d like to manage a part-time job as well for financial reasons so you’d love to put together a regular schedule.

Location, location, location

When balancing two jobs, organisation and planning ahead is key, but finding a part-time job close to where you are interning will help considerably! You may even be able to pin down an internship and a part-time job within the same company – at Quarter for example you could be an events intern by day, and a bar tender or waiter by night!

Keep your eye on the prize

Juggling two jobs means you will have a lot going on, but you still want to be as focused as possible in both roles so you can get the job done efficiently and have plenty of time to rest once you’re done! Make sure you have a plan of attack right from the start of your shift and stick to it as closely as you can. Keeping focused in this way and sticking to goals will help you feel in control.

Use a calendar!

You may boast a super-human memory and feel able to keep all of your commitments stored in your mighty mind…but even the best of us forget things from time to time. Keeping things recorded in a calendar or diary – whether it’s on your phone, computer or the classic paper variety - will not only stop you forgetting appointments or clashing shifts, but it will also give you that all important piece of mind that you’re going to need. You can never go wrong with a diary and a couple of to-do lists (oh, I do love a list!).

Make time for fun and relaxation

Even for the career-focussed workaholic, making time to relax and or do something fun (or even simply do nothing!) is key. Whether it’s time with friends, hitting the gym or flopping on the sofa and escaping to the magical land of Netflix, it’s important to find time to unwind.

Want to break into the world of events management? Express your interest in interning with Quarter by contacting us at recruitment@qrter.com and telling us why you’re great!