8 answers
Andrew
Student
Rockford, Michigan
1
Question
Updated
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How do I balance internships with other higher paying jobs?
I know getting an internship is necessary, but how should I balance that with a high paying former job? I need the work experience of the internship but also the money from the other job. If I don't get a ton of scholarships or grants, I will definitely need the money. Also, should I get a job or side hustle while I am at school?
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8 answers
Prashanth Sirikonda
7
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Prashanth’s Answer
Focus on earning money first if you need it to stay in school. Finding a flexible job or side gig can help you gain valuable skills. You can also look for internships during the summer, breaks, or in part-time and paid formats. Remember, it's important not to take on too much at once. Avoiding burnout is crucial because it can affect your grades and future opportunities more than missing one internship.
Jasmine Jackson
DEI & Employee Experience Manager
6
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Jasmine’s Answer
Hi Andrew! This is definitely one of those situations that requires understanding your bandwidth. The last thing you'd want is to be stretched too thin, balancing the demands of an internship and job. Especially if the job is full time. I would prioritize the demands of the internship and get a clear layout of timing needs, schedule (and if it's flexible), and how to ensure you're completing your responsibilities in full. After you establish the framework for what the internship requires, then see if you can shape the paid work schedule around that. Since your internship will be a professional reference, doing your best work will be key! I understand the financial aspect of it in the short term, but it will be important longterm to secure career opportunities to perform well with the Internship and find a 'side hustle' that fits your availability.
Chloe Mathewson
Management Consultant, Payment and Lending Operations
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Chloe’s Answer
Hey Andrew! Great question--this was something I dealt with in college too. I ended up working as a paid tutor during the year, finding paid internships, and supplementing with other side hustles like soccer coaching. Finding a balance can be really difficult, but I would recommend a few things.:
1. Depending on your field, there are a lot of paid internships nowadays! I was lucky enough to hold a few in college. Focus your search on paid internships if that is viable in your field.
2. If your industry largely has unpaid internships, check with your university to see if they offer funding/grants as a stipend for an unpaid position. I know that my school had opportunities for this and helped students to subsidize transportation to/from unpaid internships as well.
3. Don't burn yourself out! If your financial security is the most pressing issue for you, then focus on paid employment. Supplement your job with some targeted networking among your university's alumni or other personal contacts in industries you are interested in may lead to a paid internship, unpaid part-time position, or a full-time position post-grad.
Most of all, don't stress. The job will come in time. Best of luck!!
1. Depending on your field, there are a lot of paid internships nowadays! I was lucky enough to hold a few in college. Focus your search on paid internships if that is viable in your field.
2. If your industry largely has unpaid internships, check with your university to see if they offer funding/grants as a stipend for an unpaid position. I know that my school had opportunities for this and helped students to subsidize transportation to/from unpaid internships as well.
3. Don't burn yourself out! If your financial security is the most pressing issue for you, then focus on paid employment. Supplement your job with some targeted networking among your university's alumni or other personal contacts in industries you are interested in may lead to a paid internship, unpaid part-time position, or a full-time position post-grad.
Most of all, don't stress. The job will come in time. Best of luck!!
Lin Yu Hao
software developer.
14
Answers
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Updated
Lin Yu’s Answer
It’s completely understandable to feel stressed trying to balance internships, higher-paying jobs, and school. Many students face the same challenge — wanting valuable experience while also making enough money.
One approach is to prioritize your long-term goals: internships are important for experience, but a high-paying job may be necessary to cover expenses. Look for flexible internships — part-time, remote, or summer-only — so you can maintain other work or side hustles. Side hustles like tutoring, freelance projects, or online work can give extra income without rigid schedules. Keep applying for scholarships or grants if possible.
One approach is to prioritize your long-term goals: internships are important for experience, but a high-paying job may be necessary to cover expenses. Look for flexible internships — part-time, remote, or summer-only — so you can maintain other work or side hustles. Side hustles like tutoring, freelance projects, or online work can give extra income without rigid schedules. Keep applying for scholarships or grants if possible.
Hristo (Chris) Stoychev
Management Consulting Manager
2
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Hristo (Chris)’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
Balancing a resume-building internship with a job that actually pays the bills is one of the toughest things to manage in college. It is a frustrating reality that the experience you desperately need for your career rarely pays enough (if anything) to cover rent. I completely understand this struggle because I lived it. There was a season when I had to manage full-time school and a full-time internship while still relying on side jobs to cover my expenses. While that schedule was incredibly difficult, it taught me a valuable lesson on how to prioritize and manage my time.
To survive this juggling act without burning out, you have to treat your calendar like a strict budget. If the internship is your golden ticket into your industry, try to negotiate a condensed schedule—like working three full days instead of five half-days—so you have large, uninterrupted blocks to work your higher-paying job. As for taking on a side hustle during the semester, it is absolutely doable if you lean into roles that offer total autonomy over your hours. The goal isn't to hustle endlessly; it is to build a temporary bridge of financial stability that gets you safely to that first post-grad career offer.
Map out a realistic weekly schedule and also think about the next semesters or summer/winter breaks.
Have an open conversation with both the internship and side jobs and make sure you can commit to a set schedule.
While all that is important, make sure you take some time for yourself and not burn out.
Balancing a resume-building internship with a job that actually pays the bills is one of the toughest things to manage in college. It is a frustrating reality that the experience you desperately need for your career rarely pays enough (if anything) to cover rent. I completely understand this struggle because I lived it. There was a season when I had to manage full-time school and a full-time internship while still relying on side jobs to cover my expenses. While that schedule was incredibly difficult, it taught me a valuable lesson on how to prioritize and manage my time.
To survive this juggling act without burning out, you have to treat your calendar like a strict budget. If the internship is your golden ticket into your industry, try to negotiate a condensed schedule—like working three full days instead of five half-days—so you have large, uninterrupted blocks to work your higher-paying job. As for taking on a side hustle during the semester, it is absolutely doable if you lean into roles that offer total autonomy over your hours. The goal isn't to hustle endlessly; it is to build a temporary bridge of financial stability that gets you safely to that first post-grad career offer.
Hristo (Chris) recommends the following next steps:
Brian Sterricker
Creative Writer
5
Answers
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hi Andrew--
That is an excellent question. I had a similar "this or that" situation during a college summer. I had the opportunity to work at a marketing internship, which would have been a cool experience and would have looked great on my resume. However, it would have been a long commute each way, or I could have rented a dorm room nearby, but that would have eaten into my earnings. Plus, the pay was not that great.
My other option was to work at a camp for the 3rd (or 4th?) summer in a row, with people I liked, in a setting much closer to where I lived. And it paid better than the internship.
At first, I thought the internship was the right choice. The only choice. But the more I thought about it, the familiar job made a lot of practical sense. In the end, I took the familiar camp job. It was the right choice for me at the time. I loved that summer. Then, in the fall, back in school, I found an internship for the fall semester. It all worked out.
I guess my point is, it's not as if there is absolutely a right and wrong choice. Trust yourself. Think hard about it. Experience matters, but so does money. I wish those two things always went hand in hand, but that is not often the case. Weigh the benefit of the experience against the practicality of money. And always remember that, whatever you choose, it's just one choice. If you choose correctly, then great. But if you choose incorrectly, there will always be a next decision to make. Knowing what to avoid in the future can be as valuable as anything!
I hope my anecdote helps. Best of luck to you!
That is an excellent question. I had a similar "this or that" situation during a college summer. I had the opportunity to work at a marketing internship, which would have been a cool experience and would have looked great on my resume. However, it would have been a long commute each way, or I could have rented a dorm room nearby, but that would have eaten into my earnings. Plus, the pay was not that great.
My other option was to work at a camp for the 3rd (or 4th?) summer in a row, with people I liked, in a setting much closer to where I lived. And it paid better than the internship.
At first, I thought the internship was the right choice. The only choice. But the more I thought about it, the familiar job made a lot of practical sense. In the end, I took the familiar camp job. It was the right choice for me at the time. I loved that summer. Then, in the fall, back in school, I found an internship for the fall semester. It all worked out.
I guess my point is, it's not as if there is absolutely a right and wrong choice. Trust yourself. Think hard about it. Experience matters, but so does money. I wish those two things always went hand in hand, but that is not often the case. Weigh the benefit of the experience against the practicality of money. And always remember that, whatever you choose, it's just one choice. If you choose correctly, then great. But if you choose incorrectly, there will always be a next decision to make. Knowing what to avoid in the future can be as valuable as anything!
I hope my anecdote helps. Best of luck to you!
Rene Yard
Financial Services Manager
7
Answers
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Updated
Rene’s Answer
Instead of seeking "balance," think about why you are doing each task and allocate the right amount of time to reach your goals. For example, talk to your manager about working a 4-day week or reducing your hours by 2 hours a day. Explain your reasons and what you're trying to achieve. Many managers want to help you succeed, even if it means you might move on eventually.
Rufino Cudia
Solutions Architect
8
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Rufino’s Answer
When I was in high school, I had a physically draining part-time job on the weekends. It wasn't high paying, but I didn't have to worry about paying for much at the time. When I was in college, I tried to schedule my classes so that I could work part-time during the evenings on the weekdays. I also did side jobs/hustles on the weekends when I could get them. As soon as I graduated, I worked 7 days a week: 2 jobs, weekdays and weekends. I did this for several years until things started to slowly fall into place.
It's probably harder to find an internship that pays something, but they might be out there.
It really depends on the internship hours and your high paying job hours. The internship might only be during the daytime. If your high paying job is during the evening, you might be able to pull it off. Make sure you get enough rest. You only have 24 hours to work with. Plan it out as best as you can and stick to it.
I would get a job or a side hustle while at school. Side job/hustle the rest of the time you're not in school. Again, make sure you get enough rest.
If money becomes tight, don't be too proud to sell things you might have that have value. You'll always be able to buy it back when you're living in the future you're trying to build.
Just remember, this "storm" you're currently in will eventually end. Everything you're doing is preparing for what's after the storm.
It's probably harder to find an internship that pays something, but they might be out there.
It really depends on the internship hours and your high paying job hours. The internship might only be during the daytime. If your high paying job is during the evening, you might be able to pull it off. Make sure you get enough rest. You only have 24 hours to work with. Plan it out as best as you can and stick to it.
I would get a job or a side hustle while at school. Side job/hustle the rest of the time you're not in school. Again, make sure you get enough rest.
If money becomes tight, don't be too proud to sell things you might have that have value. You'll always be able to buy it back when you're living in the future you're trying to build.
Just remember, this "storm" you're currently in will eventually end. Everything you're doing is preparing for what's after the storm.