<p>I am a junior ECE engineering major. I have been offered a summer internship at a company that does the sort of engineering I'm interested in. However the job is mostly computer help desk! The job is also far from home, which most likely means I'll need to pay for housing. (Which isn't a big deal if it were a meaningful job.)</p>
<p>SO what I'm wondering is is it worth it? Is the exposure and or the foot in the door something valuable?</p>
<p>Thanks for your ideas.</p>
<p>Your a junior ECE. You have been offered an internship opportunity with a company that does the sort of work that you find interesting. And it would be relevant experience. IMHO you should take it unless you have a better prospect on the table ATM. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Just take it…</p>
<p>I mean it completely depends on your other options. Graduating with no experience is costly, but a help desk position seems like a pretty far cry from most engineering internships that I’ve heard of. If you have an offer you should know whether or not they’re going to cover housing - not that that should be a major concern, but it is going to make it a less attractive deal. Keep looking and try to delay giving them an answer would be my advice. If nothing else comes up, take it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas. I’m talking to them tomorrow. We’ll see.</p>
<p>Well, what other choices do you have? If it’s either this or nothing then absolutely take this. If you have other options then evaluate those.</p>
<p>If you need a cop-out to not give them an immediate answer tell them you need to figure out housing costs and everything to make sure you can afford to take the job.</p>
<p>I’d actually advise you against taking it. If it’s not the kind of work you want to do - well, worse than that, if it’s the kind of work you don’t want to do, don’t do it. You can find something productive to do over the Summer, even if it’s not an internship… just keep your eyes and ears open.</p>
<p>For instance, you could look into doing an REU or something similar. I don’t know if you have aspirations to grad school. If you get some research experience under your belt and keep your grades up, you should be able to get into a decent grad program somewhere. This will buy you time to get better internships or experience, and a lot of employers will count a master’s as a year or two of experience.</p>
<p>I’d really hold out. I say this because it sounds like you’re not into it. You might regret it later.</p>
<p>Not everyone gets their dream job. Real life can be tough. At least you got a job. I say take it, unless you have better alternatives.</p>
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<p>If it’s the only option, you take it. But, the OP didn’t say that’s his only option. If he has another option that would allow you to do something impressive, do that. </p>
<p>Having internships is important, but actually doing something impressive at those internships is even more important. You don’t need to invent a new manufacturing process, but you should be able to come away saying “I saved XXX dollars per year…” and be able to put together an impressive story about how you saved that money. Those are the sorts of comments that land jobs in an interview.</p>