Go for Internship or Keep Part-Time Job

Hi all,

I’m an accounting major going into my junior year this fall, and I have a bit of a predicament. I’m considering applying for an internship with a regional firm this spring (yes, I know it’s late, but in this specific situation, I think I still have a shot at it). It’s not specifically an audit or tax internship, but just a general one that gives you a feeling about how the firm operates during busy season.

The issue is that a have a job at a credit union that pays slightly better than the pay on the listing for the internship, and I really like my current job. The internship calls for 25-40 hours per week of work, a schedule which would make it impossible to keep my job, have the internship, and take 3 or 4 other classes. I acknowledge that taking the internship would be much better for long-term career purposes, but it may only last through the spring semester, and I really need to be working through school to avoid financial difficulty.

I’d love to come back to the credit union if the internship didn’t get extended, but the credit union is small and has extremely low turnover, so there might not be a need for me assuming they hire someone in my place.

Would you guys suggest taking the internship (assuming I apply and get it) or hold on to the job until I can get a more serious internship closer to graduation? Thanks!