During my second year in college, the argument on whether to do internships vs part time jobs was always a point of discussion. My friends told me that internships were the best thing; they made them open doors to their future career. Others took the pride of working half time and made money and freedom balancing it with courses.
And there I stood in between and said to myself; which should be taken out of Internships or part time jobs?
You are reading this, so you are likely to be asking the same question. It is time to be honest, students do not want to be advised, but be clear. That is why, I will be dissecting internships vs part time jobs plain English, with real life examples so that you can make a choice that actually fits your life in this post.
Why this Question Matters at all
The fact is that college life is overwhelming. Still between classes, homework, and deciding what to do after college, students usually have a meltdown regarding how to construct their resume.
- Is it worth foregoing time and getting an internship?
- Or should you take on part time employment and get a regular income?
- Which is going to be more presentable when it comes to full-time jobs in the future?
These aren’t small decisions. They even are able to influence the course of your career.
I also erred because I made a fast move into my first part time job without any long term career plans. (Spoiler: I detested my hourly working experience as a cashier in a large supermarket.) I later did an unpaid internship that has provided me with first-hand experience in my field. The two experiences influenced my thinking, and I am able to tell you what I would have loved somebody to tell me before.
Difference between Internships vs Part Time Jobs.
Defining them: First of all, before comparing them, we can define them:
- Internships → Resorting to a temporary paid (or unpaid) work experience where you acquire industry-specific skills. Can be between a few weeks and few months long.
- Part-time jobs → Full-time jobs with regular pay, which is often not based on your major. Part-time jobs but is hardly a direct path to your career.
And when students pose the question, which is better, internships or part time jobs, the answer lies in what is more important to you, now money or future career opportunities.
Benefits of Internships
One time I was a marketing intern even though it was unpaid. Initially I was embarrassed to work as a volunteer. But here’s what I gained:
- Authentic Industry Skills → I studied SEO, content writing, and such tools as Google Analytics. These are skills that enhanced my resume.
- Networking → I had mentors and LinkedIn friends who subsequently gave me freelance leads.
- Career Clarity → I found out that I actually liked the field of marketing over finance (my major!).
👉 In case you are interested in knowing why internships are such a strong tool, I have a detailed post on the Benefits of Internships.
Benefits of Part-Time Jobs
Unpaid internship is not suitable to everyone. I get that. My rent and WiFi, which were a lifesaver, were paid by my part-time job.
- Money → The biggest advantage. A few hundred dollars a month will help you be independent.
- Soft Skills → Customer service, time management, dealing with pressure. Employers value these.
- Work Experience → It demonstrates that you are disciplined, reliable even though unrelated.
Part-time jobs are not only a choice, but also a necessity to students with strained financial backgrounds.
Internships vs Part Time Jobs Which Resume Looks Better?
Hiring managers often say:
- Career preparation is demonstrated in internships.
- Part-time employment demonstrates trustworthiness.
They both are weighted, but when you are applying in your field internships place you at a direct advantage. Indicatively, during the time I was seeking a digital marketing position, the recruitment manager enquired about my internship projects, and not cashier job.
When to Choose Internships
Go for an internship if:
- You desire to enter into a particular industry.
- You do not mind short run trade off (less money in the present to get better jobs in the future).
- You must have an understanding of whether your major is the right one.
My friend Aisha has studied computer science, and was not sure whether she should code. She does not like software, but after the internship at one of the software companies, she understood that she preferred UI/UX. That decision alone helped her choose her career.
When to Choose Part-Time Jobs
Choose a part-time job if:
- You require a regular income at this time.
- Your major is long, costly (medicine, engineering).
- You would like to be more flexible and have fewer concerns regarding performance appraisals.
One of my classmates was employed in Starbucks when in college. There he did not learn about coding or finance, but customer service skills that proved useful to him later in the HR.
Quick Comparison: Internships vs Part-Time Jobs
| Factor | Internships | Part-Time Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | Often unpaid / low pay | Steady pay |
| Relevance | Usually relevant to your field | Usually it is not |
| Networking | Good (mentors, industry experts) | Weak |
| Skills | Technical + soft skills | Mainly soft skills |
| Resume Value | High (career-oriented) | Moderate (disciplined) |
FAQs about Internships or Part Time Jobs
Q1. More difficult, internships or part time jobs?
Internships are more mentally taxing (acquisition of new skills), whereas part-time jobs are either physically or emotionally taxing (long work shifts, monotonous work).
Q2. Can I do both?
Yes! A good number of students juggle a part time job to earn money and an internship to develop their careers.
Q3. Is it worth having unpaid internships?
Depends. Yes, in case the company provides mentorship, training, and real work experience. But when they just keep sending you out to get coffee, then it is not worth it.
Q4. Is this because employers are more inclined to internships or part time?
In career specific jobs, internships are more appreciated. Nevertheless, part time jobs demonstrate maturity and responsibility.
🌍 Industry Perspective
It is a common statement that big recruiters such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed use internships as a stepping stone to the entry-level positions. In fact, a Forbes report discovered that more than 60 percent of internships end up becoming full-time jobs.
Simultaneously, part-time employment offers the lessons of life which an internship lacks. Such aspects as dealing with challenging customers, dealing with money, and working in a dynamic environment.
My Personal Take: Which of them Should You choose?
Today, when you would ask me about which would I choose between an internship vs part time job, I would say:
- You can do at least one internship in college, provided that you have the funds. It is a kind of a trial run of your career.
- Having money urgently? Use part-time job, but do not give up on small projects, freelancing, or short internship on the side.
👉 It does not have to do with internships or part time jobs. At other times of your college life, the intelligent decision is both.
Find Your Balance Conclusion.
Then the question arises, which is better: internships or part time jobs among the undergraduates? The answer is personal.
- Need career focus and networking? → Take internships.
- Also need money and independence? → Choose part-time jobs.
- Fancy having the best of all worlds? → Confuse them together.
It is not your 20s at the end of the day to put yourself in one path. They have to do with trial and error, learning, and development.
And by the way, to prevent most of the first-year college mistakes that many students make, you can go over my post on First Year of College Mistakes. You will thank me, it will save you some headaches.
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