Should College Students Pursue Jobs or Internships?

Source: Internal Data Resources

The economic principle I’m exploring is because of scarcity, people choose. All choices have an opportunity cost. My research question to help me study the economic principle is “Should college students pursue jobs or internships?" 

The article “How Valuable Are Internships To College Students' Future Careers” published by Forbes demonstrates this economic principle by arguing/showing that there are many employment options but some will provide more benefit than others. 

First, it is important to know that when considering work opportunities, students should set financial goals and plan for the future by making decisions that better prepare themselves for relevant careers. Employment can be highly-competitive and participating in jobs and internships can greatly improve students’ chances of being hired. Having job and internship experience relevant to your field shows employers your seriousness in pursuing your career and demonstrates focus and commitment. 

Second, jobs and internships allow students to fully grasp what entering certain career fields can be like. They give students a chance to pursue their interests on a no-commitment basis. It is unconventional for a student to start participating in full-time professional work without having first experienced introductory level work within the same field. I wouldn't want to be thrown into a full-time work in a career field that I am uninterested in. It is reassuring to know that there endless work opportunities all of which are guaranteed to diversify abilities and interests. 

Third, all work, paid or not, will provide benefits to students. Jobs and internships almost always stimulate personal growth. Not everyone holds employment for the same reasons; some people utilize work opportunities for money while others utilize them for learning and experience for future careers. This article states that “in the end, the one thing you absolutely cannot afford to do is nothing.” This emphasizes that no one will gain competitive advantages without putting in the work. I believe that as long as students are working hard to engage with the world, they will find success.

In my next post, I will research the question: "Is it Better to Live On-Campus or Off-Campus?"