Working while in School vs. Internship...

Career Opportunities & Internships
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<p>Ok, I am working full time while I go through school... For the past 16 months I have worked as a Systems support specialist for a medium size company (~$550M in annual sales). My job entails providing systems support (includes wireless systems, SQL servers on VMWare, SAP, and AS/400 functions) for 27 locations in 10 different states, as well as executing daily reports, performing backups of company database files, and sometimes fixing hardware issues. I am learning a great deal about business systems, and their functionality/role in the business (basically their importance to the business is comparable to the human brain to the body--pretty vital). Since I work full time I am not able to be involved as much as I'd like in campus activities/programs (Although I did serve as VP of the Accounting club in 2005, and am a member of the finance club).</p>

<p>Anyways, I'm curious to know if anybody has experience with what employers would rather have... actual work experience while going to school or doing summer internships and being able to be all involved in extracurricular campus activities? </p>

<p>(BTW, I'm doing both... I am studying accounting, and will be doing an accounting analyst internship with the same company I work for during the fall '06 and spring '07 semesters.)</p>

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<p>I'd like to know too</p>

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<p>all the above and more!</p>

<p>good question. well if the work pertains to the field you are studying in, i would then say stick with the actual work experience. that's my .02 cents on it though.</p>

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<p>check out this new york times op ed article: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/opinion/30kamenetz.html?ex=1306641600&en=8d46ef1742de9619&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/opinion/30kamenetz.html?ex=1306641600&en=8d46ef1742de9619&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>i would say, definitely stick with the paid job (assuming it has something to do in the slitest with what you want to do with your life)! it sounds like you have a lot of responsibility, and are gaining a good deal of experience at the same time. plus, if you are working with the same employees through college it would probably help you with references also. and i think it would also look respectable that you held down a full time job while doing well (hopefully!) in school full time. </p>

<p>but, if you want to go into a totally unrelated feild than the one you are working in, you may want to get a job/internship in something you are interested in pursuing.</p>