Working at Centre of the Cell during university

Roberta Torricelli

Growing up, turning 18, finally becoming what society defines an “adult”, starting university… is it finally the time for you to start looking for a part-time job? I am sure we have all heard a lot about that and how with work comes responsibility, and how “this is finally the time to learn something about that”. However, what we are never told in these cases, is in fact how daunting it can be to look for a job when you have just potentially moved to a new city, started university, and still have everything else to figure out in this new life. Well, at least that’s how I felt when I first started, and even if I knew there were plenty of opportunities out there, I wasn’t sure which ones would have been good for me. So this is my experience (and opinions) on looking for a job whilst at university, and finding one at Centre of the Cell.

First of all, as a university student your priority is ultimately your studies and your plans towards your future, so you need to find a work environment that understands and respects that. As you progress through your studies you will soon realise how difficult it can be to fit lectures, private study, part-time work and leisure in the few hours of the week. Finding a workplace that allows you to find a good balance between all of that is therefore crucial. University jobs are definitely one the best options when it comes that, and this is exactly how I came across my job at Centre of The Cell.

I wanted a job that whilst helping me to put some money aside, stimulated me and had opportunities for advancement. Most importantly, I did not want a boring job or one that I’d dread going to during the week. After some trial and errors, lots of failed job research attempts, my prayers were finally answered. My job is extremely motivating, not only because it helps me to build around my knowledge, but also because it pushes me to find the answer to questions I wouldn’t even think of to begin with. It also allows me to interact with a number of different people at all times, from kids to teenagers and adults, all sharing a common interest in science. For this reason, every shift is different from the previous one and always exciting, so much that most of the times, it doesn’t even feel like work!

Furthermore, since I started working here I have never felt like my work wasn’t noticed or appreciated, which is surprisingly something that can happen often when you are working part-time as a student. Obviously, when we invest our time and efforts into something we all like know that that time and efforts are valued. Appreciation for that can vary, it can be something as simple as a colleague’s comment, or a reward, or even a promotion. Choosing a job that can give you any of those or even all of those is in my opinion, also really important. Not only it is very gratifying, but it is also extremely motivating, as it helps you set new goals to work towards and ambitions and look forward to.

Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, another important aspect to keep in mind when applying for jobs, is to consider whether they would eventually fit in our busy university schedule. In our case flexibility is therefore key, whether that means flexible working hours, flexible work location, or both. Luckily my job at Centre of the Cell allows me to have both; I can choose to sign up for in person shifts where I can assist with the teaching sessions, or I can work from home writing blogs such as this one, and creating content for our other platforms. The other issue with working as a student is the hour commitment that certain jobs require. The advantage of working at Centre of the Cell is that there isn’t a fixed number of hours that one is obligated to fulfil weekly, you can choose which shifts to sign up for according to your schedule at that time. This means that if university assignments, exams or placements become too hectic, you won’t have to stress about making time for work or letting someone down if you can’t do it.

Finally, what I enjoy the most about my job is the incredibly sociable and familiar environment. There is nothing better than starting your shift for the day with a friendly face by your side and a pleasant conversation, it really puts you in the right mood to get to work. The people you work with and the environment you work in can make a huge impact on your attitude and performance at work, so although I am mentioning this last, really do keep it in mind when applying for future jobs and who knows, maybe…see you soon?