<p>Didn't get any internships, don't really want a job. I wanted an internship because I wanted to get something out of it, not just the money. Also to build my resume. Now I feel like I'll be at a disadvantage if I don't have internship experience for this summer. I want to go into business, and I know to get good internships in future years I really need to start getting the internships on my resume now. (Maybe I'm overthinking it?)</p>
<p>Should I just get a regular job? I really wanted to do something productive, and I don't think I'll get anything out of a regular job besides the money. </p>
<p>Or any other suggestions? 4 months is a long time...</p>
<p>And I mean freshman year of college, not HS.</p>
<p>Get a job. If you have some work experience on your resume, it will certainly be better than having nothing on it for the summer. You could work full time and earn some money, and perhaps volunteer some of your spare time at a non-profit place.</p>
<p>I agree: Get a job. You will be building your resume somewhat, and you will certainly get something out of it besides just the money.</p>
<p>Yes, get a job and then, if you have political leanings, volunteer for your candidate.</p>
<p>Getting a job is useful if you want to go into business. If you've had a job before, try to get a job in a different line of business to expand your experience. Think in terms of how this job will look someday on your resume. A job is productive in that you'll get some experience in business as well as some money which is always handy. </p>
<p>My D had a job as a customer service person at a major electronics retail store where she got some great experience in dealing with angry customers, understanding what happens when the store carries an inferior product, how it hurts the business when some of the employees aren't pulling their weight or are rude or ignore customers, how to handle the cash, 'close the store', put in extra effort for a new promotion, etc. - all applicable to the general category of 'business' even though it was just a 'job'.</p>
<p>You're dead wrong if you don't think you'll "get anything" out of a job. But you won't know that unless you actually get a job. I'm chuckling, but at least find a something for a few hours a week - or if you an extremely fortunate young person and don't need the money for gas and dinners at Buffalo Wild Wings or wherever kids hang out these days, volunteer somewhere like a library, a hospital, a service organization. volunteer at a summer recreation league. Your parents probably don't want you lounging around the house doing "nothing". I'm a parent and when my kids do that it drives me right up the wall and I'm likely to tell them to take all the books down off the bookshelves and start dusting!</p>
<p>Adding to the chorus - get a job and enjoy the summer. At worst, it will remind you what you DON'T want to be doing after graduation. After freshman year, I worked as a helper at a small electronic assembly firm and later helped run the stock/supply room. If there was ever a doubt I wasn't punching a clock for the rest of my life, that summer took care of it. Also taught me the value and wisdom of people without college degrees, how apparently smart people can have truly messed up domestic lives, how to deal with a prejudicial boss and coworkers and still keep my job (versus a friend who couldn't), and gave my parents a start on dealing with me as an "adult". All valuable, even if they had nothing to do with aerospace engineering. Don't worry about polishing your resume, you will have plenty of opportunities to do that over the rest of your life.</p>
<p>There's still time to get an internship. An internship means, someone lets you show up at their office every day and do whatever work they tell you to do. Beg people to let you do that. Beg anyone. It doesn't have to be "official" in some sense, just involve real time somewhere and it may develop into real work.</p>
<p>You will learn so much about business if you get a job,any job. S1 (college jr) has had the same job year 'round(at a grocery store) for the last four years. The experience he has gained through the job far and away trumps many of the educational experiences he has had. Jobs prepare you for life beyond college.</p>
<p>Getting a job is certainly a viable suggestion. You could also go to summer school to get rid of some gen eds. You can do this at your local junior college, and these courses won't count against your GPA. </p>
<p>Thus, you can take some courses that you might not do well in but satisfy any general education requirements, while not having the grade from these courses hurt your GPA. </p>
<p>In addition, if you are attending a private school, courses at Junior colleges are a LOT cheaper than what you are paying in tuition. Thus, the tuition savings alone could exceed any income from a job.</p>
<p>Sounds like a wining plan to me!</p>
<p>I hire interns. </p>
<p>I require they have a minimum 60 college credits, 3.0, and prior work experience. These are pretty common requirements. </p>
<p>Use this summer to log prior work experience.</p>
<p>I'll join the chorus and advocate for a job, but while looking for that there's no harm in also looking for an internship. That said, it's not as if either a job or an internship is something that you can just ask for. Our son (rising college junior) has been looking for both since the Spring. He's pretty much given up on a paid internship and has applied at most of the box stores within driving distance and has an interview for a job at a factory this morning.</p>
<p>If you decide to take a class or two, make sure that your college will accept them. For both of my kids private colleges, they have very strict guidelines about credit they will accept from outside colleges. Be careful using up your gen ed classes too. If you want to do a study abroad later, you might need those gen ed classes for that.</p>
<p>It's great if you can find one of those super internships that pay well and are supportive of your future plans, but they are few and far between. I'm a big advocate of getting a job with a major retailer. Lessons learned restocking shelves, cashiering, flipping burgers, dealing with the public, just being an "associate" "team member" or whatever they call it can be spun in many many ways with future employers. If nothing else, I think it is a motivator for doing well in school. Read the book "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich. It will give you a new understanding of your coworkers in the big box for whom this is the best job they may ever have.</p>
<p>If you are politically inclined, check with your local party organizations.
I know that the Democratic party groups in our areas are hiring political canvassers that will make $8-10 per hour, full time or part time.
They also have internships--UNPAID. </p>
<p>Anyway, google for political organizations in your area. Many are ramping up for the Fall election. If you're a political science major or are civic minded, this kind of experience could not only add a few bucks to your pocket, but look decent on your resume too.</p>