What’s better? Money? Experience? This is probably the most pondered question among college students these days who face crippling debut and a narrow opening in employment after college. Basically, everything counts. Whether it’s an internship or a waitressing job, it all comes down to survival.
For those of you who can’t find internships that pay, know you are not alone. It’s a hard decision, but the decision making process doesn’t have to be. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before accepting a receptionist job or taking an internship only for credit.
1. What financial obligations do I have in the next 6 months?
Experience is great, but if you have rent that needs to get paid in the fall, then money may need to take priority. If this is hard to accept, take initiative and learn about the many student loans students can take out for housing off campus. It doesn’t have to be a financial burden just yet.
2. How does my resume look?
If your resume is a little sparse, perhaps it is time for an internship. Internships during the fall and spring semesters are usually ideal, but highly competitive, like all jobs. Summer may be just another try at it. The economy isn’t getting any better and jobs are tight, so experience and a full resume are helpful when searching for employment after graduating. This is a reality that us students unfortunately have to keep in the back of our minds at all times.
3. What do you want out of the summer?
If you want to have a good time and enjoy the few summer vacations you have left before entering the real world, then you should probably think about getting a fun summer job. Many students take summer camp jobs to have weekends, nights and holidays off, while others take far more demanding jobs for more money. If this is a summer that is just another step in your 5-year plan, then an internship is definitely the way to go.
4. Do I want to be home for the summer?
Internships are often less flexible with locations. More often than not, they are in cities that are not necessarily close to home. Many students rent out apartments for the summer for their dream internships, barely going home. If this sounds hard, maybe an internship should wait for the fall. However, if distance doesn’t bother you, go for it! You have nothing to hold you back.
5. What do I want?
If you can’t make a decision according to the questions above, than ask this last one. Set aside your belief that this is an impossible decision; most people already know what they want, but are too afraid to admit it. You are afraid that getting a job is one step closer to giving up your dreams and being a sell out/unprepared for the real world. You are afraid of being broke and putting all your eggs in one basket in the name of a career that may not happen. You are afraid to pick one or the other. We all are, but no matter what we decide, nothing truly prepares us for the working world anyway. So what does it even matter?