Summer is fast approaching and with this comes summer internships. It can be hard to decide whether a summer internship is worth it or not, so here are a few of the pros and cons.
Of course, everyone is different and what works for one person, may not work for another. Summer internships are just one of many different routes you can take in order to get from education into the world of work.
Pros Of A Summer Internship
Experience
Many careers require you to have some sort of experience in the relevant field. This can be very hard to get, as some internships will not accept you if you do not have prior experience, but then how will you get experience if you are never given the chance? It is an endless cycle that many students have been thrust into. That is why, if you get lucky and work smart, summer internships can definitely be worth it.
So, the best advice is to start looking for work experience and internships as soon as you possibly can, in order to try and catch a break on one of your applications.
Once you are in however, the experience you receive can be invaluable. It may be that small little push that sees you get an interview or even a job offer over someone else with a similar CV to yours
Networking
Networking is also key in any industry. The earlier you can start meeting people in the industry and making connections and relationships, the better you will fair down the line.
You never know where you will end up, so the random boss you met on your university internship may just be the person interviewing you for a promotion in 10 years.
Approach everyone with an open and welcoming attitude and start making networking!
Cons Of A Summer Internship
Unpaid
Many internships are done purely for the experience. Of course, this is great, however many students cannot afford to spend their summer working without pay.
Lots of students have money issues during their university periods, so taking a whole summer out to work without pay, when you could be working a paid job is not feasible for everyone.
Time Consuming
Internships are long hours for several weeks, or months. Whilst this is good for your experience, it eats at your time and takes you away from your current studies.
If you are still working on your degree, the summer is a great time to catch up on your work and solidify all you have learnt. However, if you’re constantly thinking about your internship, you will not be able to successfully revise. It is worth debating whether the internship is worth possibly falling behind in your studies.
As you can see, there are pros and cons when taking on a summer internship but, if you can take the unpaid nature and the time commitments, then yes, it could make a very big difference in your job search.
- Related: The Best Websites For Graduate Jobs