HOW TO JUGGLE BETWEEN CORPORATE JOB AND LECTURING
Tina JIndal
Tina Jindal is a professional content writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate, and education. She has been involved with renowned publications and has tried her hand at editing works on Cookery, Gardening, Pregnancy, and Healthcare. She loves to travel. You can contact her @Gmail | LinkedIn | Google+.
Business and Education: Juggling between the role of a Manager and a Lecturer
Have you ever considered working in a second job profile? Or do you already have additional work on your plate? People take on different employment roles in life for a variety of reasons. It could be to earn more money, or to simply stimulate their grey matter by acquiring a new set of diverse skills. One very common “second profession” adopted by professionals today is that of a teacher or a guest lecturer. There is very little doubt that pursuing the job of a guest lecturer can be very challenging.
Individuals, part of the corporate world, are expected to frequently give lectures in universities. They do so on their own time, mostly on receiving an invitation from an academic institution. They could be invited once or on a frequent basis. Universities conduct workshops all the time. This is when they call eminent personalities and initiate their interaction with the students. Sometimes a teacher or a lecturer may be on a break for say 3 months. In such situations a professional as a substitute is hired to give lectures for the said period on behalf of the absent professor. This practice could be undertaken as a volunteer, or in exchange for money constituting a second income. Executives associated with business management find themselves frequently invited to give guest lectures. The tutorials are based on their experience of the business world, and more.
In this article we will focus on how to effectively juggle between the roles of a manager and a guest lecturer.
- Time management
First and foremost, juggling a full-time job and frequent lectures will take a lot out of you. Hence, managing your time effectively becomes a necessary mandate. Normally, if you are filling in as a substitute, you will be expected to visit the university for about 2 – 3 hours every week. The key to utilizing your time judiciously is to make sure that everyone in your team knows what to expect. If colleagues in your office are aware of your secondary job profile, they will be more prepared and inclined to make adjustments as and when required. Also, having a meeting with the college tutors before a lecture can be used to ask important questions regarding the general scenario of the class and the topic of discussion. This will save precious time dedicated to understanding the morale and temperament of a classroom.
- Stay focused
When giving a lecture, it is very easy to get carried away with stories of experiences in your life. Staying focused is vital as you have a select few hours to impart information and knowledge. However, concentrating only on the academics and ignoring important work at office will never win you any accolades. Managers have a ton of responsibilities so prioritizing routine challenges as and when they arise constitutes a smart move. Cooperation being the key word, maintaining a holistic balance between work and mentorship ensures you get the requisite respect for your endeavors.
- Keep yourself updated
You have been a manager for 10 years and have worked in a variety of job profiles before that. You were in college in the 20th century and are expected to teach brilliant minds in the 21st. Trust me, doing so is no walk in the park. Education is constantly evolving. Textbooks change, the inherent material changes, and so do the teaching methodologies. What was a hip and cool method of tutoring in your time may be redundant and obsolete in the current year. In situations such as these, always keep yourself updated and abreast of the changes taking place in the education industry. Gone are the days of “blackboard and chalk”. Now it’s all about projectors, presentations, laptops, and smartphones.
- Interact
Continuing with the aforementioned thread of discussion, apart from learning the latest teaching techniques, you need to have an in-depth knowledge of your teaching subject along with who your pupils are. Conducting interactive sessions with the students ensures a lively class and piques the interest of those who are normally dormant in a regular class. Answering questions and giving constructive feedback is also part of the package. In the end, just stay professional and have a clear vision of what you are doing. If you are able to manage that, people will listen and respond accordingly.
- Engage
Take initiative in learning new things so as not to get bored. Keeping yourself interested is highly important to evade monotony and complacency. Regular and timely contact with colleagues – both professional and academic – is one way to accomplish it. This way you will not only establish good communication but will also show that you are doing your job. Being visibly present at work and in college not only displays that you are responsible towards your job but pacifies colleagues and students that you are around for help. Consequently the higher echelons will see that you are serious about your work. Engaging constructively with colleagues, teachers, and students will make sure you remain at the top of things.
Conclusion
Engaging in two job profiles can open up plenty of opportunities. One of your roles could improve the other, either through networking, skills learned, or just because of the break from routine. Having multiple responsibilities can actually help you do both the jobs better. As a guest lecturer you will interact with young minds and learn about the temperament of the current generation. A job as a guest lecturer can be obtained online as well. You don’t always have to be invited to impart quality knowledge and information. Also, you might just discover that your company adores the fact that you are involved in multiple roles. As such, they might be more than glad to offer a flexible schedule so as to help you accomplish your goals.
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