Opportunism in Internship Decision

When there is a point for us to make choice, potential opportunism will occur in our decision making. For most international students on campus, finding a summer internship is not easy because we are restricted by visa status. Without an related background, I got a summer internship in a Chinese bank New York branch by having some relatives networking. Having an internship in the U.S., especially in somewhere near Times Square, it is a great boost on the resume and future job seeking. However, after I talked to the HR, I was told that this position is considering as volunteer, and the company will provide seldom training and actual tasks to interns. It is not an opening position, just like something over shadow. They offered this opportunity to their big clients’ children or employers’ relatives who want to make their resume looks better. 

After I talked to my previous colleague, who is also an alumnus, he told me that I may not learn something valuable from this internship experience because I’ve already interned in their Hong Kong branch last year. Besides, he told me that the company has concerned in confidential information, so people without contracts (like interns) cannot access to information and nothing to do. However, we both acknowledged that this opportunity will provide me a more persuasive work experience and look great in my resume. I was struggling with the deal because I also received an offer from a television station in China. Both internship were unpaid so I need to compare their payoff. I know that even if I can learn more and apply more knowledge in the internship in China, it will still be less persuasive in other countries. However, if I waste two months in New York without learning anything valuable, I will feel guilty to my time and money.

I finally choose the internship in my hometown. First, I am more interesting in TV production and willing to apply some of my relevant knowledge to it (I am double majoring in communication). It allows me do something more relevant to my future expectation. Indeed, this internship is not an easy job. I need to select topic, interview people and communicate with cameraman, write script lines, and edit videos after I get through the training. Even if the process was painful, I can finish a piece of TV news production all by myself. Second, the opportunity cost of working in my hometown will be less than working in the New York. I don’t need to worry about housing and budget. I can also go back home and spend some time with my family and friends. 

When considering opportunism in this case, I think the reward for taking the opportunity will be a better look in the resume and networking with people who will be benefit for me to settle down in the U.S. However, if I take this step, my resume will become more or less deceptive because it still looks great even if I am just in charge of writing address on the envelopes. Plus, I don’t want to work in a decent bank and finally learn nothing about banking. Even though I give up this opportunity, I still think my choice is great because I have a valuable summer.