Students from Different Cultural Backgrounds on Combining Part-Time Work with Studies

Seventeen-year-old Xuefei Jessica Thompson was born in the UK but moved to Beijing when she was 6 so that she could learn Chinese and understand her mother’s culture. Her parents are both architects, her father working for Fortune 500 company JLL and her mother “flying solo” as head of her own business. Thompson attended public school until last year when she moved to Dulwich College Beijing (DCB). She told us she doesn’t like to be considered “half” Chinese and “half” British; “being mixed should mean being both, not being less than full,” she said.

Have you had a part-time job? If so, what was the first job you did, and how old were you?
The first part-time job I ever got was working at TRB (Temple Restaurant Beijing) when I was 12. One of my closest friends’ dad owned the restaurant, and we were both hired to work at TRB for a couple of hours a day. We mainly worked in the back, peeling onions and washing dishes. She has now advanced to being a waitress and is continuing to do an amazing job.

Did you want to get a part-time job, or did the idea come from your parents?
My parents have always been very aware of the pros and cons of living in an international community. One of the biggest cons for them was that children didn’t understand the value of money; they found me to be very spoiled and ungrateful. As a parent, you feel compelled to provide your children with everything you can offer them. However, showering them with gifts and money can be detrimental and have negative effects on the development of the child. Therefore, they decided to cut my allowance and it was as if they dumped me at a crossroads; I had two paths in front of me. I could be angry, rebel, and choose to do nothing, which would only result in further disappointment and probably the confiscation of my laptop or phone. With this thought in mind, getting a job became the obvious answer.

At what age do you think it’s appropriate for young people to get part-time work?
My father was 6 when he had his first job: delivering newspapers to his neighbors. You’re never too young to get a job, you just need to find the job that suits you. But the concept of a part-time job doesn’t really exist in Chinese culture. Most places won’t give you an employment contract unless you’re 18, and that’s why you will most likely be given internships over part-time jobs. Internships are great for experience; they are shorter and allow you to get a preview of what the industry is like without a long-term commitment like a part-time job.

What was/ is your current job? How did you choose it?
If you’re looking for a part-time job, you have to show initiative and seek out the firms. One of my favorite experiences was working as a part-time journalist at Sports Beijing. The title didn’t really exist, but I sent in my resume and the skills that caught their eye were writing and editing (video and photo), and they put me in charge of writing articles and promoting their events. I attended all the events, took photos, conducted interviews with key individuals, wrote and translated the articles, and sent them off to be published. As an aspiring journalist, it gave me an insight into the industry and has motivated me to achieve my dream. For young teens, being a tutor (teaching English) or a babysitter is a great way to earn a bit of pocket money.

What problems/challenges did the job create?
Working with Sports Beijing challenged my time management skills. I would be given an article to write with a tight deadline, and I was often tempted to slack off and procrastinate. To stop myself from doing this, I set soft deadlines and tasks that I needed to finish every day in order to finish the workload. Working in the restaurant business at the front desk/waitress was challenging in every aspect. If customers were dissatisfied, they would complain to me. They would give me impossible tasks: during our busiest hour, a customer came in and demanded a table for 12 with no prior notice. It challenged my social and problem-solving skills, but most importantly it taught me how to think on the spot.

What did you learn?
I’ve had three part-time jobs now: I’ve worked in the restaurant business, I’ve worked in an office, and I’ve worked in sales. Each job has taught me valuable lessons that I wouldn’t have grasped otherwise. When you do get paid and hold the RMB bills in your hand, you will realize just how unworthy it all was. Killing yourself for eight hours a day, five days a week, and receiving less than minimum wage, makes you realize just how joyous school is, and that without a proper education this is what you’re signing up for for the next 50 years.

Do you spend or save your earnings?
I earned my own pocket money, and I spent it when I was with my friends on getting massages, getting my nails done, trying new cuisines and good drinks. My parents paid for the necessities: clothes, food, and so on. But anything else I had to earn.

What advice would you give to other classmates when it comes to teenagers working?
Don’t be scared to ask for a part-time job, the worst they can say is no. And spending your own money – it’s different than spending pocket money. It’s way more satisfying, but it’s also kind of painful, you realize how hard it is to earn money. Is getting your nails done really worth half a day’s wage?

Beijinger Shen Shiyu studies at the Chinese campus of an English university. In her spare time, she enjoys sports and healthy eating. Her father Shen Xiang’s business is railway components while mother Zhou Ping works in the culture/media industry. Little brother Shen Shiguai, age 15, “is the focus of the whole family,” according to his sister!

Have you had a part-time job? If so, what was the first job you did, and how old were you?
I got my first part-time job during the summer vacation when I was a sophomore. It’s a shame because it’s pretty late to get a job compared with my peers. I worked in an American fashion clothing company as a brand representative (shopping assistant) and was paid by the hour. The main purpose was to get an employee discount.

Did you want to get a part-time job, or did the idea come from your parents?
I didn’t want to get a job at first, but then my parents criticized me for staying at home, doing nothing and being a freeloader… so I chose to find a job. Then I realized I really needed to develop my skills, and I was not satisfied with a vacation filled with food, drinks, and entertainment. I thought I should do something meaningful to improve myself.

At what age do you think it’s appropriate for young people to get part-time work?
The earlier, the better. First, people will step into society sooner or later. If we try earlier, we can adapt to it faster. As the saying goes, “win at the starting line.” Second, as you get older, time becomes more and more precious, the opportunity costs get higher and higher, and then you suddenly come to realize that if you’d started a little bit earlier it would be easier. If I could start over, I would like to work in the summer vacation after the college entrance examination. I would like to have more time and opportunities to try out and experience more careers, so as to lay a foundation for my career planning in the future.

What was/ is your current job? How did you choose it?
My professional experience is actually quite lacking. Besides being a clothes shopping guide, I also worked as an intern in the international trade department of an agricultural investment company. At first, maybe because I have a lot of time, and I am energetic, I selected the jobs mainly according to my hobbies. I thought it would be interesting to work in a clothes store, and I could wander about while making money. Later, I was introduced to another very interesting job: as a guest on a TV show. Although I participated in only a few shows, the feeling of standing on the colorful stage, being baked by spotlights is very memorable. It makes me feel like I am “famous”!
However, now I usually choose jobs based on real needs: ones related to my major, which can help with my application for a master’s degree, or careers I would like to follow in the future.

What problems/ challenges did the job create?
I had some problems with my first work experience. I am 500 degrees myopic, so I needed to wear glasses all the time. However, the work clothing guide required me not to wear glasses, because it is not in accordance with the style of the brand. So I had to go home and ask my parents if I could wear contacts. However, my dad treated this problem as “crossing his red line” (my dad rejects everything that may threaten my health, such as dyeing hair, piercing ears, and wearing contacts). Then I chose my dad over my work.

What did you learn?
The biggest gain: it’s not easy to make money. and I should cherish it when I spend it! And you should learn more when you are young. Don’t be afraid to work hard!

Do you spend or save your earnings?
Because I didn’t earn much from my part-time job, I will answer this question based on my imagination: I can’t wait to use my paycheck to repay my parents. And I could choose an inexpensive gift for myself as a reward. And I will save the rest of the money.

What advice would you give to other classmates when it comes to teenagers working?
As for going out, I think safety comes first. Take good care of yourself by living and working in a safe environment, and then take the opportunity to exercise and enrich yourself. Besides work, you can also find opportunities to learn more about a new environment, to feel and experience the differences from your hometown, and enjoy the time of being alone and away from your family.