Finding a balance between work and school can be difficult, and while the prospect of having extra cash for nights in the city and mall trips may seem appealing, it’s important that your assignments and sleep schedule are attended to first. Here are four tips to help you manage a job and your school work.

1. Flexible hours:

Finding a job that understands you have other things going on besides working is essential. However this shouldn’t limit your job search.

Try to focus on work in fields like child care, pet care and food service. A lot of these jobs won’t require much past experience from you, making it easier to land a position.

These jobs are likely to have hours you can work on the weekend and at night so it won’t interfere with your school schedule.

Another position to consider if you want more control over your schedule is doing freelance journalism work.

Publications are always looking for new writers to generate content for them, and a lot of the time you’ll be able to work from home. Pick a publication you’re interested in and try to see if they are hiring.

2. Don’t overwork yourself:

The worst thing you could do is overbook yourself. Even if you find yourself with more free time than you think you need, you’ll appreciate it when you start working.

Start out slow with your hours. Even if the prospect of more spending money is appealing, your sanity comes first.

Make sure to also schedule time for yourself to relax, even if it means writing it down in your planner.

“If you’re working while going to school, my advice to you is to be organized and responsible,” junior Daniel Falcones said. “Always have time for your studies.”

3. Know where to look:

Finding a job can be intimidating. If transportation is an issue, try checking out locations within walking distance on North Avenue. Even if a place doesn’t specifically say they’re hiring, it never hurts to fill out a job application.

If you’re still struggling to find somewhere that interests you, check out the Iona College Career Development Part-Time Job Blog.

There are listings for jobs ranging from personal assistant to child care providers. Here you can find detailed descriptions about what the job entails as well as hours and what would be required of you.

4. Time management:

While during the summer you may have found yourself capable of working a 40 hour work week, at school you have more responsibilities.

Before committing to a work schedule, map out everything that you have to do and what day you have to do it. This way you can know exactly what days and times you’re available before committing to anything.

“Make sure you have a physical schedule, whether it be written down or in your phone,” senior Shannon Andrews said. “Plans change so frequently that you can’t always rely on your memory.”

Employers may be impressed with your work experience, but not at the cost of your education.

Having a job during the school year isn’t for everyone. Between finding a healthy balance of school work and sleep, sometimes there isn’t any time for anything else.

If you’re interested in making extra cash, start out slow, and learn your limits before diving into any serious commitments.

“Working is good because of the money, but school is far more important,” Falcones said.