Full time job or Internship?

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Mr. Lennon

Mr. Lennon

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
3,492
1
81
I am currently a junior and will be graduating in 2012. I am going to school for television/film. Networking is EVERYTHING in this business. With that said, I have two options right now...

Option A:
+Take summer internship at a major television network
+Profit from the experience and people I will meet at the internship.
-I will have to take out more student loans to live since the internship is unpaid

Option B:
+Accept a full time job offer at a Apple store as a "Expert."
+Won't have to take out more student loans because I will be making around $2500 a month.
-Will miss out on possible opportunities/experience in the field I really want to work in.
-I will have no life going to school and work full time. School might even suffer.

If I go with option B I can still get a internship later on. I really want to start working in my field now though. What would you guys do?
 
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PieIsAwesome

PieIsAwesome

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2007
4,054
1
0
A.

When in school, at least for me, jobs that will help me in my field of study >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> unrelated low-pay jobs.

If you can get an internship that will help you get a job in your field of study after you graduate, then working at Starbucks is a waste of time.
 
S

somethingsketchy

Golden Member
Nov 25, 2008
1,019
0
71
Full time job. As an "intern" right now, internships are only worth the experience and ability to build up business relationships for future careers.

However most times, you're lucky to make a livable wage and benefits. I myself barely make it paycheck to paycheck while paying off tuition loans and a personal loan for my car.

You'll be much better off the $2500 a month.
 
PieIsAwesome

PieIsAwesome

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2007
4,054
1
0
somethingsketchy said:
Full time job. As an "intern" right now, internships are only worth the experience and ability to build up business relationships for future careers.

However most times, you're lucky to make a livable wage and benefits. I myself barely make it paycheck to paycheck while paying off tuition loans and a personal loan for my car.

You'll be much better off the $2500 a month.
Click to expand...

Only? ONLY?! That is everything!
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Do you have any other work experience? If you have past good internships or related work experience I'd consider the full time job. If you don't have much else that is related to what you want to do on your resume I'd take the internship. You admitted that networking in your field is huge, if you don't have connections and experience it will be hard to get any use out of your degree.
 
R

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
If networking is as important to the business as you say, then you should definitely go for Option A. You're going to find it harder to get into the business if you choose B.
 
X

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
eh...depends maybe on how much extra youd have to take out in loans, and what (if any) the immediate benefits might be from the internship. do they do internships with the possibility of a paid internship or position after the summer program?

im interviewing soon at the hospital i work at for a full-time internship. what i do now is part-time and paid,but this would just give me more hours in a position that they want to train to hire for. school might suffer some for me, but ill at least be getting a paycheck and a definite line to a job.

i wouldnt have taken my position if it was not paid...but for a 2month deal maybe its worth it, if you can easily still get a job after the summer is over elsewhere.
 
Mr. Lennon

Mr. Lennon

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
3,492
1
81
Bignate603 said:
Do you have any other work experience? If you have past good internships or related work experience I'd consider the full time job. If you don't have much else that is related to what you want to do on your resume I'd take the internship. You admitted that networking in your field is huge, if you don't have connections and experience it will be hard to get any use out of your degree.
Click to expand...

All of my work experience has been in computer sales/marketing. I have a part time marketing job right now actually. I have yet to take on a job in my field of study.

The more I think about it...I believe gaining experience in the field that I want to work in is priceless. I'll probably graduate 30k in debt, but I think it's worth it.
 
F

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
A, sounds like your financial situation isn't too bad. $30k in debt is average. This internship is more important than the classes you take, so even though there is an opportunity cost (~$7.5k by my estimate) it is part of making your college experience as a whole more valuable. Its like paying tuition.
 
W

wiredspider

Diamond Member
Jun 3, 2001
5,239
0
0
Sounds like you can do both. Doing B does not preclude you from doing A. Have you already been offered the internship?
 
rudder

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
Zeppelin2282 said:
Option A:
+Take summer internship at a major television network
+Profit from the experience and people I will meet at the internship.
-I will have to take out more student loans to live since the internship is unpaid
Click to expand...

You will find that in many cases... landing a good job is based more on know who than know how. Of course I know nothing of your planned industry. I was a pilot at one time and landed every single job I had because I knew someone who knew someone. There were tons of people with similar resumes so the chief pilots getting a personal recommendation from someone he knew was all that was needed to be put on the hire list.
 
B

bas1c

Senior member
Nov 3, 2009
325
1
71
Take option B then write a post a few years later about how you regretted not taking option A.
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Zeppelin2282 said:
All of my work experience has been in computer sales/marketing. I have a part time marketing job right now actually. I have yet to take on a job in my field of study.

The more I think about it...I believe gaining experience in the field that I want to work in is priceless. I'll probably graduate 30k in debt, but I think it's worth it.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you have your answer. $30k is a manageable amount of debt.
 
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