Should I Get a Job Or an Unpaid Internship?

When reviewing college applications, admissions officers take note of a student’s work experience. Work experience is a great way to demonstrate passion, display initiative and explore interests.

Two of the most common forms of work experience high school students gravitate towards are jobs and unpaid internships. There are benefits and drawbacks to both opportunities, and in this blog post, we’ll go over the pros and cons of both in order to help you determine what form of work experience is best suited to you and your needs.

What You Need to Know About Getting a Job

Common jobs for high schoolers tend to be concentrated in fields such as sales, food service, or retail, to name a few. High school jobs are a great way to gain experience in these fields and develop skills that are directly applicable to many other pursuits.

For instance, a student who works in food service at a local fast food restaurant has to interact with customers on a daily basis. They must creatively and professionally address any complaints, ensure that the customer’s needs are fully met, and guarantee that patrons walk away satisfied with their experiences. As a result, this job allows the student to develop exemplary interpersonal skills, which are invaluable both in and out of the classroom.

Similarly, as an employee, this student must collaborate with his or her coworkers on the regular, and as such is able to learn how to proactively work in a team. This skill is a great asset to have as a future college student, as university life frequently necessitates working closely with other students. Additionally, the student may have to take charge of certain projects in the workplace, allowing them to develop their leadership abilities, which they can then apply to academic and personal pursuits in the future.

Clearly, jobs are a fantastic conduit for personal growth. College admissions officers know this, and as such, they are likely to view a student’s employment history in a positive light. On a professional level, working a job in high school can help open many doors for you in the future. Often times, entry-level positions can be a stepping stone for others forms of employment, as jobs in many different industries look for a similar core group of skills and attributes in a potential employee.

Employers like to see that an applicant has successfully worked a job in the past, as this makes them more certain of a potential hire’s ability to succeed at their establishment. This can be particularly beneficial to your college career; for instance, if you are looking for a side job to make money as a college student, you may find the search process easier if you already have a strong resume with a lot of work experience.

Additionally, in comparison to an unpaid internship, your job will probably allow you more control over the amount of time you work. You are likely to work fewer hours overall, as paid jobs in the industries you will likely be working in high school are typically less of a time commitment.

Why is this? With paid jobs, you are usually able to create your own schedule and choose hours that are best suited to your needs. However, as an unpaid intern, you will probably have to abide by the office-wide schedule already in place. For instance, summer internships will usually require interns to work 9-5, just as every other employee at that specific organization does.

To summarize, that working a job in high school can significantly benefit to your overall college application. It is especially impactful if you hold the position for a significant period of time, or if you can get promoted, as this directly demonstrates your dedication and your hard work.

Getting an Unpaid Internship in High School

Unpaid internships for high school students are typically more specialized than paid jobs. Some examples of unpaid internships that may accept high school students include working at your local congressman’s office, a legal office in town, or a nonprofit organization.

Internships can help you gain work experience in your field of interest, as they are generally more targeted. This can help boost your chances of acceptance to a major specific program, or a specialized school. Additionally, unpaid internships can help demonstrate a student’s passion in a given field. For instance, working an unpaid internship at an art gallery can help a potential art history applicant really stand out from the ground.

What’s more, obtaining an unpaid internship can sometimes be a challenging process, as there are usually more applications for these positions than there are spots available. Depending on the internship, landing an unpaid internship can be somewhat prestigious in the eyes of a college admissions officer. Additionally, the initiative required to seek out these specialized positions can help show a student’s dedication to a given field.

Unpaid internships can also help students develop many of the attributes we listed above, from developing strong leadership abilities to being a good team player to cultivating interpersonal skills. Often times, interns will be faced with tasks that help them develop important skills that they can apply to a slew of different scenarios they may later be faced with.  

Furthermore, because unpaid internships tend to be targeted to a specific field of interest, working such an internship in high school can also help you make connections and gain experience that subsequently makes it easier for you to get even better internships in college. Let’s say you served as an intern at your local congressman’s office. Perhaps once you’re a university student, someone from the office connects you to a colleague of theirs who works for a political campaign. This connection could help you land a competitive internship on the campaign, and allow you to more fully immerse yourself in the political world.

Financial Considerations

Although unpaid internships can be a great way to further explore a specific field, if you need the money, then you should ultimately choose to work a job. Having a job can help make going out with friends and staying social easier since you’ll have the funds to pay for outings. You can also use the wages you earn to help pay for school-related costs and other expenses, which can be particularly helpful if your family is of limited financial means.

For some, choosing to take on an unpaid internship is a luxury. You should not feel pressured to obtain one if you feel you cannot comfortably afford to work without pay. After all, having an internship is by no means a necessary component of a strong college application.

We hope that this blog post has helped you decide whether a job or an unpaid internship is right for you. Want more information on jobs, internships, and extracurricular activities? Our highly trained mentors are here to help. Use the form below to sign up for a free, one-on-one consultation with one of our admissions specialists!

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