Developing and negotiating a schedule that works for you
Balancing work, classes, studying, and personal commitments can be challenging, but also an important professional skill. Learning how to communicate early, plan thoughtfully, and negotiate respectfully helps you maintain both academic success and workplace reliability.
1. Understand Your Priorities & Constraints
Before you meet with your supervisor about your schedule, take time to understand your own availability and needs.
Know your key time commitments:
- Class schedule: Note all class times, labs, and discussion sessions.
- Commute or travel time: Include time between classes and work, especially if your job is on a different ASU campus.
- Extracurricular or personal obligations: Include student organizations, internships, sports, and personal/family responsibilities that have set times.
Helpful tools:
2. Communicate Early with Your Supervisor
Your supervisor wants you to succeed, but they can’t accommodate your needs unless you communicate them clearly and early.
Before your first day or early in the job:
- Share your class schedule (and update it each semester).
- Clarify expected hours: Ask how many hours per week are expected or allowed. (Most ASU student employees can work up to 20 hours/week during semesters.)
- Ask about scheduling flexibility: Some offices allow flexible shifts or remote work, others require set hours.
- Understand the process for requesting time off or changing shifts (including how far in advance schedules are set)
- Confirm your schedule in writing (email or shared calendar)
Example Email
Tip: If your supervisor has not developed one already, propose and attach a draft schedule with your preferred hours that avoids back-to-back commitments.
3. Review & Adjust When Needed
Your schedule might need to change during midterms, finals, or new semesters.
- Reflect on whether your current schedule feels manageable.
- Note any recurring conflicts (e.g., class runs long, commute time underestimated).
- Talk with your supervisor early about adjustments. Avoid shifting your regular schedule too often, but be honest with your supervisor if you need adjustments on a certain day due to exams, extracurricular events, etc.
- Be proactive about finding shift coverage (if applicable).
Remember: Your education comes first, but being dependable and communicative helps build trust with your employer.
