Working and studying in Milan can double the commitment and fatigue of being away from home but… if you look closely, the satisfaction of building your own full independence will also double, combining the pleasure of university education with that of economic autonomy.

On the other hand, Milan is a city full of opportunities for those who want to take their first steps in the world of work and, therefore, it is precisely from here that your next career could begin.

But is it possible to work while studying at the University? And what should you know before becoming an off-site student?

In this brief in-depth analysis, we wanted to take stock of this issue, hoping to share some tips that you will find useful when you close your suitcase to head to Milan!

Is it possible to work while studying in Milan?

First of all, let us remember how it is well possible to work while studying at the University. In fact, there are no specific foreclosures that prevent you from living your dual status as a student and off-site worker. If anything, you may have some difficulty in reconciling the presence in the classroom with the rhythms of work, especially for those courses for which it is necessary or appropriate that you have direct participation in the lessons.

It is also for this reason that most of the off-site students in Milan look for jobs that allow them to have a good part of the day off (think of the service staff in bars and restaurants, and so on).

Which jobs are suitable for university students in Milan?

The conclusion of the previous paragraph allows us to deepen which are the most suitable jobs for university students in Milan.

Although there are no strict rules in this regard, we believe that a good compromise can be obtained through the catering sector, which requires a greater presence of staff during the hours not affected by the lessons (evening, weekend). Furthermore, it might be useful to evaluate commission-based jobs, such as agents and sales representatives and, in general, those jobs that require mediation activities to be managed independently, in moments of freedom.

Of course, nothing prevents the student from pushing their ambitions a little further, and choosing a job that is in line with their study path: think about the possibility of becoming an apprentice in some professional studio, or making yourself available to younger students for tuition and advice on the subject.

Part-time working in Milan

If you want to fill the dual roles of student and worker, it is very likely that you will opt for a part-time role, rather than a full-time one.

In fact, working part-time in Milan means reserving the right amount of time for studying and attending classes at the University, which would be precluded, however, with a full-time job.

Seasonal working in Milan

Even if when we talk about seasonal jobs, we always think of holiday resorts by the sea or in the mountains, in reality even a metropolis like Milan can guarantee the availability of important seasonal jobs, linked to the major tourist flows that are concentrated where there are some calendar specific events (think of Fashion Weeks, Christmas, and so on).

Proposing for seasonal work can be a useful solution to enter the world of work for very limited periods of the year, without affecting the attendance of lectures at the University, given that many seasonal jobs coincide with the break of training sessions in universities.

Working in the evening in Milan

As we have already mentioned not too many lines ago, one of the “traditional” solutions for off-site students who want to gain some economic autonomy is to find employment in one of the many clubs that enrich the city with fun and opportunities for recreation and relaxation.

These are usually part-time evening jobs in pubs, restaurants, bars and other places where aperitifs, dinners and other forms of catering are served. Finding one that can do for you is not at all difficult, as shown by the many job advertisements on specialized sites.

Digital jobs to do at home

In recent years, the share of off-site students in Milan who manage to earn a salary through digital work to do from home has become increasingly large.

Also in this case, the list of alternatives is really varied. Think of translators and online tutors, columnists and online sellers.

The types of contracts to be evaluated for working during the University

When you want to work during your university studies, everything is possible and, therefore, nothing prevents you from starting a full-time employment relationship. However, considering that it can be very difficult to study and work for the entire university training course, we recommend that you evaluate types of contracts that give you sufficient flexibility, in order to carve out study hours during the week and attend the exam sessions without problems.

For these reasons, the most practical options for working and studying are part-time contracts, full-time seasonal contracts and internships.

Coordinate attendance of lessons and work

Coordinating class attendance and work is one of the great obstacles that prevent many off-site students in Milan from being able to successfully start their own business.

However, the fact that it is an obstacle… does not mean that it cannot be overcome!

It is in fact essential to establish in advance convenient and flexible contractual formulas which, as we have already recalled a few lines ago, give you the opportunity to set aside time for study and exams.

Once this has been done, create an agenda in which you indicate how much of the day you should dedicate to study, how much to dedicate to work and, of course, how much to reserve for leisure: a little relaxation is needed for not getting too tired due to educational and professional commitments.

Optimize time to study effectively

The best way to optimize the time to study effectively is certainly to create a daily routine. That is, creating a plan with awareness and sustainability for the hours to devote to study and those to devote to work, avoiding intensity peaks.

In the light of this, remember that to prepare successfully for an exam it is not necessary to do “marathons”, but it is much better to try to create a gradual path over time, which over a few months can lead you to prepare for the exam without suffering excessive pressure.

The secret to optimizing the time to study effectively even if you are working is: planning!

Leave room for physical well-being

As we pointed out not too many lines ago, you cannot live by study & work alone. Therefore, always leave some time available for physical well-being (gym, sports with friends, etc.) and for relaxation.

In this way you will have the opportunity to recharge your batteries when necessary, and give vent to stress and tension that will naturally accumulate during your journey as an off-site student and worker.

 

Conclusions

We hope that these brief ideas have been useful for you to prepare yourself adequately for your next life as a working student in Milan.

If you want to know more about what awaits you in your student life in Milan, we also invite you to read our guide on how and where to shop in Milan and our 7 tips for living alone in Milan.