Balancing studies and work is actually one of the most widespread problems for students, who wish to get a job that would give them flexibility and decent pay, leaving enough time to attend to their studies. One of the jobs that has gained special attention lately, especially among students, is that of a night auditor. Working as a night auditor is an excellent opportunity for students, especially students who prefer evening or night shifts. However, is the position of a night auditor the most appropriate student job? Let’s dwell on some pros and cons of being a night auditor, consider how many students work as receptionists in London, and discuss whether it’s practical to combine this job with studying.
What Does a Night Auditor Do?
Typically, night auditors work in the hospitality industry, especially in hotels. A night auditor’s role is combined with reception and accounting work, where one works at night. Responsibilities include checking-in late-arriving guests, reconciling the day’s financial transactions, preparation of financial reports for the hotel management, and ensuring that front desk operations run smoothly during the night.
Pros of Being a Night Auditor
The fact that the shift falls at night is one of the major reasons students are attracted to the position of a night auditor. Additionally, night auditors work late at night and thus can attend university classes during the day. The quiet nature of the job at night also means there’s usually some downtime to catch up on assignments or study-a big advantage, sometimes, for students trying to juggle work with academics.
Higher Wages for Night Work: Working at night usually attracts higher pay. Many hotels have an additional compensation or a night differential for those working odd hours, meaning that students can get a little more than perhaps some other day job.
Skill Development Avenues: The position of a night auditor opens avenues for students to pick up various skills in the areas of customer service, problem-solving, and basic accounting. Such skills learned in this regard will come in handy later in life in their chosen field, be it hospitality or otherwise.
Minimal Supervision: Since the nights are usually quiet, night auditors usually work with less supervision. Consequently, this brings independence and responsibilities that are attractive for students who prefer working on their own.
Disadvantages of Being a Night Auditor
Sleeple Pattern Disturbances: Probably the worst thing that may happen with being a night auditor is disturbances in sleep. Working irregular hours will eventually break your body’s rhythm and can exhaust you-especially if you are planning to attend daytime classes. Poor sleeping may eventually reduce concentration on studies.
Limited social life: Many a time, working at night forces one to miss most of the functions that generally happen amongst friends. Since most of your friends will have daytime schedules, balancing work, study, and social commitments can be pretty tough.
Stress during busy times: Even though generally, it is quiet during the nights, late hours of the night may still be busy. This might be stressful while attending to late arrivals, sorting any problem the guest may have, and trying to finish off the end-of-day reports, especially when something does not go right.
Physical and mental strain: Working for long night shifts might stress your physical and mental health in the long run. A good routine is highly essential for the students, and working at night, with taking care of the studies, too, becomes quite exhausting.
How Many Students Are Working as Receptionists in London?
While it is hard to estimate the number of students doing night auditor jobs, it is easier to obtain figures for the more general receptionists category. According to estimates from the Office for National Statistics, about 80,000 people are employed as receptionists in London. A full percentage of this number comprises students who opt for part-time receptions, especially within industries such as hospitality, healthcare services, and corporate companies.
Night auditors are part of a broader group of receptionists, and since London is among the most popularly visited cities by tourists from around the world, it is quite expected that most hotels and hostels in that city hire students for such positions. Most students find hospitality jobs very attractive since they offer flexible shifts, including nights and weekends, which fit well around academic schedules.
How Many Hours Per Week Can a Student Work?
Everything has to do with finding the right balance between work and studying. The UK Government recommends up to a maximum of 20 hours a week during term time not to harm their studies. This figure is often considered to be the ideal maximum to ensure that students can keep up with their course work but still gain valuable work experience.
There is also the legal constraint, for those international students who are here on a Tier 4 student visa, of a maximum of 20 hours work per week in term time. For local students, this guide provides a useful benchmark to avoid burnout.
Because most night auditors work in shifts, any shift is anywhere from 8 to 10 hours long and usually overnight. A typical part-time schedule might be to work two or three shifts in a week, which falls within the recommended 20-hour limit.
How Much Do Night Auditors Get Paid?
Generally, night auditors can expect to earn anywhere from £10-£12 per hour in the UK, depending on the hotel and location. Rates, for example, are a bit higher in London, where the cost of living is much greater, at £14 per hour for some positions, considering the great demand for night workers in the hospitality sector.
Since many night shifts come with added pay or allowances, the remunerations of night auditors may be higher compared to the daytime receptionists from the same hotel. To students, this would help pay living, tuition, or other major needs.
Is a Night Auditor Job Good for Maintaining a Study Pace?
In general, it will depend upon the person themselves whether the job, like working as a night auditor, is good to keep up the study pace. If one can bear working at late hours and manage his sleeping schedule, then it is going to be an excellent job-offering flexibility and decent pay. If, on the other hand, one tends to have sleep deprivation at nights or feels that all this might affect his studies, then this is not a good option.
Many have found doing two or three night shifts a week manageable to have a good balance of work and study. This, however, requires you to know your energy level and rest sufficiently to sustain a good academic performance.
Conclusion
The being a night auditor job can therefore be an ideal one for a student especially for students who would rather work at night and have flexible hours. It offers great experience, decent pay, and the possibility of some quiet study time. However, the nighttime hours mightn’t appeal to everyone-the possibility of disrupted sleep will also be a nightly possibility. If you consider this as a night auditor job, take into consideration how well you handle irregular hours and also whether you can balance work with your studies effectively.
By tailoring your CV for receptionist role, showing previous customer service experience, and being in a position to effectively handle the night responsibilities, all these factors combined work to your advantage in securing such opportunities. With the right approach, this job as a night auditor can be an ideal job that will continue to pay your tuition fees and build your career skills.
