I am a film major and luckily I was able to get an internship at a production company near where I live for the summer, but it is unpaid and I am not interested in the content they produce. If I don’t do the internship I would be a counselor at my summer camp where I would be paid and live a much healthier lifestyle. I have been trying to make this decision for so long. I feel like it might set me back to not take the internship since I don’t have any previous ones, but at the same time, I really do not want to feel both mentally and physically unhealthy all summer, which will most likely happen if I stay home.
Is it a mistake to not take the internship or will I be able to figure it out after this summer without it?
Will you learn new skills on the internship? Can you afford to take an unpaid internship? Does “not interested in the content” mean it is offensive in some way, or just not an area you plan to pursue long term?
Students who come out of college without internship or work experience in their field these days are at a disadvantage. My nephew chose working at a summer camp throughout college, and had a rough go of finding full time work in his degree area after college. He is 3 years out of college now and FINALLY has an entry level job in his field. At some point you have to make some sacrifices for your chosen profession.
Why is the internship unpaid? Would you be getting college credit for it or is it with a non-profit or government agency? If not, it is required to be paid. There are minimum wage laws for a reason.
Take the paid job.
My parents have said they will support me, but to me that is not the same as earning the money myself. Not interested in the content means I do not plan to pursue the type of content of media they make in any way. I’m even avoiding classes in that realm. I just finished my freshman year and would not return to camp after this summer, but I’m worried if I don’t take this internship it will be incredibly hard for me to get another. The internship is just unpaid for no reason, which I know is illegal but at the same time I know it is good to have something on my resume.
Take the paid job. You are just starting, so you can apply for internships later. Might be different if you were a rising junior or senior, so do what you want now. Sounds like you will be happier at the job.
I am biased though cuz I turned down a research opportunity to work part time at a job that will not advance my career in any way. Can’t wait for the summer.
That’s a tough one. Without killing yourself, can you squeeze in a part time paid job while doing the internship (just enough to cover some spending money)? I completely respect your attitude that you want to earn your own money. Wish more kids felt that way.
As another poster stated, internships are important, BUT more critical for rising juniors and seniors. If need be, think of this as your last summer with a high school type job and spend time throughout the year trying to secure a paid summer internship. It could take a lot of networking so start early.
Good luck!
You have to know your industry. Are internships critical in making the connections you need to get jobs in the future? or will having an internship this year make it easier for you to get an internship in the type of content you are interested in?
Also ask in http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/ and see what they say
I agree with several posters here that you are early on the internship train doing it between freshman and sophomore year. It is more common starting in the summer between sophomore and junior year. Oftentimes, employers like to see a student have a couple years of school (and age, and maturity) under their belt before offering an internship.
With regard to the opportunity in front of you, ask yourself: if the folks offering the internship should be paying you and aren’t, how else are they running their business that is less than on the up-and-up? Employment law is there for a reason - work that is done for free is not an internship, it’s volunteerism. What is your time worth to you? D spent last summer working a P/T job in food service. Not glamorous, but the few internships she half-heartedly applied for didn’t pan out and she needed to earn some money. This summer, she’s flying across the country to do a paid internship (well over minimum wage) at a multi-billion dollar company.
Go for the paying job - you have time. You will have another year of school under your belt, which may be more attractive to companies hiring interns. If you find that the opportunities in your field are similar to what you are seeing now, you may have to bite the bullet in the name of experience.