College can be a difficult time financially for many students. Many college students have to rely on their parent’s money to get them through college and be able to have a good time. For others however it is a job. Many students in college acquire jobs for the purpose of paying off their student loans, and tuition, or just to have spending money to have a good time in college. Money is important to college students and there are many types of jobs to help them get through the four years there. Most students are interested in taking part time jobs because with school, they definitely do not want a full- time job commitment. Other students choose internships besides jobs because it can grant them some early experience in their future field of study. Some internships may also be paid, giving them a job, while earning experience. Internships are very important in college. They can set you up in a career where you can excel. Senior Cathal O’Dea says, “I will probably get an internship at some point to get experience working.” Internships are not much harder than a job, and will most likely pay more than a job in the fast food industry. It would be a win-win for the students because they get experience in a field that they may want to go into and they can get paid while doing it. Some Jobs in high school can also be carried over to college. Senior Jordan Wallace says, “I recently got a job at Home Depot, and I want to work there while I’m in college. “ Jobs and internships are important for college students because they give them experience in the real world they may not have before, money to put towards tuition, or spend on good times, and it gives students something they can put on their resume in the end.

One question that comes with a job or a paid internship is where to put the money towards. To put it towards a car, tuition, spending money or just into savings is a big decision. Many students that go to colleges and get jobs decide to put their money towards tuition to help make their future debt a little smaller. Even though the student will most likely still have debt they will be making little cuts in it here and there. Spending money can also be important in college. College is not only about education, but it is also about having a good time and money is needed for that. Many things on campus are cheaper for students but off campus is the real world, and you need money to have fun there. Senior Emma Grayson says, “I will probably make spending money from a job, but I’m not 100% where to put all of it.” Savings can also be a great place to put job income. How much savings you have can decide how much you travel, how you live, or when you retire. Finding a good savings bank with a phenomenal interest rate should entice students to get a head start saving for the rest of their lives.

Another choice for a job in college is where to get it, or more importantly, what it is. A job in college would be a steady position with income on its way every few weeks, however internships could be more important than that. An internship is important to gain experience for the real world. Many universities around the United States help their students find jobs or internships on or off campus. Senior Allan Berche says “I think I’ll get a job because I need to fund myself in college.” Internships can also be paid. Paid internships could be considered the best thing since sliced bread. Paid internships will get students experience in the field they want to specialize in while accumulating an income similar to a real job.

Another decision that could impact what job students get is the option of part time or full time. Students at IHS who are going to UW, Seattle U, or Bellevue College may seek a full-time job or internship because they will be living in the same places (or similar places) throughout the summer and winter. However students going anywhere aside from those universities or outside the state may only want to seek a part time job commitment because they will most likely come home during the summers. Even working part time students will most likely have the time to establish a steady income while managing their money at the university and at home. Internships can also be full or part time. Some internships may require students to stay in their university over the summer to still earn their pay, as well as jobs. On the contrary, many internships and jobs can lead to great places in the summer, and it will tell future employers that you are committed to what you do.

Resumes are also very important in the business world. Having a lengthy resume is obviously beneficial, but having quality instead of quantity may benefit more. Building on your resume in high school and college would be a great idea. They can be built through jobs, internships, clubs, charitable activities or organizations. In college is when a resume begins to take shape for a student to begin to make his or her way into the real world. Building on a resume with internships or jobs in college would help that student be able to say they did more, and accomplished more than a student who just sat back and focused on school. Quality and quantity are both important when creating a resume, however it is important to have one that you are proud of and that can open the door to success after college.

Choosing certain jobs or internships is also a very important decision in college. Students in college usually have a good range of places where they can work after their classes. Same with internships, students will most likely have plenty to choose from depending on the type of college, and they will most likely be able to get one in their field of specialty. For example a good internship for someone interested in business would be one with a large, global business corporation. If someone is interested in art they could intern for an art studio or a gallery. For jobs however, it can be a little less related to your major and more related to experience, however it can relate to your major in college, obviously depending on what it is. An example for a business major could be a cashier or a waiter/waitress. A chance to work on selling and buying strategies with firsthand experience. A job, even though it could be in your field, may not have as much weight on a resume as an internship with a sales company. Internships and jobs are still important in college no matter what, but the type of internship and job and the company it lies in could influence a future career.

Many colleges around the country can also have different amounts and types of job opportunities than others. Junior Thomas Su says, “I want to go to the University of Texas. I want to be a computer engineer. An internship for that would be nice.” Internships and jobs can differ based on the type of community that is around the college campus. A city campus may differ in job opportunities versus the campuses settled in a college town or a small country city. Some country campuses may have different types of job opportunities than those situated in large college towns or in the cities.

Students may also want a reminder that this isn’t a choice that should make their college decision for them. This is a small aspect of college life that is somewhat important but can be made up for wherever they go. Colleges with strong programs will most likely have many internships or job opportunities in whatever field is their strongest. Schools with a small community around them may have on-campus jobs which can benefit the students by making money close to their classes enabling them to see their friends and work close to their dorm. Campuses with large communities around them will have more and more off-campus opportunities than on-campus jobs. City campuses usually have connections with companies that want to high college students or grads which give students the opportunity for experience with a real business outside of the college classroom.