EPTThis morning I went into work to help with a conference that had just arrive on campus. (I am the campus technology manager for my uni during the summer.) My boss was there, and she is usually pretty stressed and freaking out, due to my work place having to lay off people, while at the same time taking over the dining department for the university. However, there was some down time after most of the people were checked in and had their wireless set up, so I asked my boss what I had to do to get an intern position for Hospitality Services (my department). She asked me if I wanted to be an intern next school year, and I said yeah, I've been working around the office already like an intern and it seems fun, so I just was curious. She was like: "you're hired."
Lol, never guessed it could be that easy.
Anyway, now to the career advice part. I am a junior at an Ivy League (putting this part because I think the opportunities the school gives me make a difference), 19. For the past four years I have worked in computer tech support, first for my school district during high school, and then for the university. I am now the manager. My job next year will involve pitching the campus to organizations that need a place to meet (summer camps, corporate events, academic programs, etc.), and then organizing and running every last detail of the events for those that choose to use our campus. I will continue to work in tech support as a second job.
I am studying animation and digital graphics as my major. My hope is to integrate my love for art and technology in a career, possibly in the gaming industry. However, I switched majors to study this my sophomore year, and am a bit behind on the classes, etc. (I will finish in four years though, just behind compared to other people in my year.) I feel like this hurts me in trying to apply for internships related to my studies, as I just don't have much experience or a large portfolio of work with different things. I have a lot of natural talent and learn very quickly, but I feel like this is not enough in the competitive environment I am seeking an internship/job in. I am not sure how easily I will be able to obtain a job in this field after graduation as a result of not having very much experience/internships in the area.
However, while I love my studies and will continue to work on my art no matter what, I also really enjoy working in the hospitality/service industry. I am detail-oriented, good at managing, planning, running things; I love interacting with customers, and being in a crazy, high stress environment that involves a lot of juggling to keep things going. I feel like I would have a high chance of getting a job in the area upon graduation, even though I have not taken classes related to it. I will have 6 years of work experience at that point, and at least one internship at a high quality hospitality business that makes millions in just a few short months each summer.
My adviser wants me to get an art related internship of some kind next summer-- she doesn't care if it's actually related to what I want for a career, just thinks I need an art internship. I kinda feel like not taking an internship unless it is something that will directly help me pursue a career in the area I'm interested in. I feel like taking an internship through the summer with the hospitality department, and then continuing to build a portfolio of art work, might be better. The internships may lead to a very nice job with the department upon graduation (great pay and benefits), but I feel a lot less certain about some random art internship I take mixing paint in Italy (I know someone who did that for a summer).
I am in no rush to jump right into a career related to my major. I would be happy working in hospitality for a few years while doing smaller freelancing work and building my way up to a full time job offer in the field (or maybe I will just love my job so much I will stick with the freelancing, I don't know). Are my thoughts on this realistic? Does it seem like I should stick more with the hospitality stuff, or take some bigger risks and see if I am able to get anything in my field of study? I will be graduating with zero debt, thanks to scholarships, but also with no money or financial support, since I am completely independent (and making money while taking classes is pretty difficult, lol). I don't want to be stuck homeless and out of a job upon graduation. Advice?
