82% of Spanish postgraduate students gain work experience while completing their degree

Much has been said in recent years about the so-called ‘NEETs’, i.e. teenagers who neither study nor work and who currently account for 22% of young people under 30 years of age. However, these figures are far from the 48% of young people who prioritise their studies and dedicate all their time to them. These data also contrast with those of young people who combine studies and work and who account for more than 23% of the population in that age group.

In fact, studying at the same time as working is becoming an increasingly common situation, perhaps because of the high cost of rent, tuition fees, or day-to-day life. The truth is that according to a study conducted by a consultancy firm that specialises in training and postgraduate studies, Círculo Formación, 82% of Spanish students interested in pursuing a master’s degree or doctorate course have previous work experience, in other words, they know what it is to study and work at the same time.

According to the Círculo Formación survey involving almost 4,000 young people at the FIEP 2019 Postgraduate Studies Fair in thirteen Spanish cities, around 60% of them stated that they combined their training with a job related to their area of interest or an internship obtained at their own university’s employment pool, while 15% said that they had studied and worked at the same time, but in sectors that had nothing to do with their training.

Benefits and tips

Be that as it may, the truth is that combining both activities brings obvious benefits such as earning money, but it also raises awareness among young people of the effort it takes to earn money and even to manage small budgets. In addition, it contributes to generating the necessary job skills, which are precisely those that companies demand from new graduates: having work experience.

Of course, it goes without saying that studying and working at the same time is not an easy task and that in order to be successful, besides having a good dose of extra energy, it is necessary to follow a few brief but essential tips that can help you on your way.

– Be organised: organising your time is essential. Keeping track of dates, deadlines, meetings and other responsibilities is essential because it provides a sense of control and security.

– Have a clear goal: there will be times when it will be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel and those are the times when you need to keep in mind why we are doing both things at the same time.

– Dedicate time to yourself: combining studies and work leaves little time for anything else apart from thinking about your studies and your work; hence it is essential to dedicate some time to oneself every day. Go to the gym, watch an episode of your favourite series or have a drink with friends. These things will help relieve tension and get you back to your chores with more energy.