Stupid job problem

DadaKopf

Right, having finished my Master's, I've been appying for jobs for ages. In the last two weeks, two opportunities have come up that look promising. One is an internship with Amnesty International, another is an internship with another NGO which I already do voluntary work for.

I applied for the Amnesty job and managed to get an interview for it today, the woman on the phone sounded like she needs someone really quickly. It'd be a great job, and it's a great place to work, but I'd much rather get the other internship. The problem is applications for that one close on 16 May, so there's a good month between the two.

But I don't want to miss out on an opportunity either way. The whole thing is complicated by the fact that I asked one guy from the other NGO to be my referee for the Amnesty position, but it'd be him I'd be supporting if I took the other job.

Neither position is paid, and it's been suggested to me that I take the Amnesty one if I'm offered it and say I'm leaving a month later if I get the other one a few days into the job. Since internships are basically exploitation, why should this be a problem? However there's the problem of 'doing the right thing' and taking whichever is offered me first, or just ditch the Amnesty job in the hope of getting the other one.

Anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice?

Eoin

Probably better suited for the work forum, you should post there as well unless a mod wants to move this thread.

Beruthiel

I'll move this to the work forum

DadaKopf

Sorry 'bout that. Anyone got anyfink to say?

WhiteWashMan

which one would you

get more enjoyment out of?

is more important to you personally?

is more important to you professionally?

does your heart tell you to go for?

does your head tell you to go for?

in other words, if they were both offered on a plate at the same time, which one would you take?
the hardest thing to do is the 'right thing'.

the right thing to do is the right thing for you, not for them. decide which one means the most to you, and then go for it.
if it means taking one job stright away and then ditching it after a few weeks, then do it. while youre organisations may be charities, you are not, and you will have to think seriously about where you want to go. its about doing the right thing for you.

what do you think?

DadaKopf

I know I'd much rather go for the other one, not Amnesty, for a number of reasons. For one, I already have personal commitments to it and have been volunteering there for months. I feel I want to give more to them by taking on more responsibilities. It'd be work in an area I wish to pursue professionally (i.e. paid work), so the learning opportunities would be more important/beneficial to me. I also already have a good idea what this organisation is about and how they go about things, so it'd suit them to take me on. Plus, they're a great bunch of folks. On the other hand, Amnesty has brand recognitition, which looks good on a CV. The job description looks good, also, and excellent experience.

It's just if I ditch one in the hope of getting the other, and don't get it in the end, I've thrown away an opportunity.

Ancient1

If you don't mind my asking, what did you do your Master's in?

DadaKopf

Development Studies.

WhiteWashMan

DadaKopf wrote:

It's just if I ditch one in the hope of getting the other, and don't get it in the end, I've thrown away an opportunity.

only you can make that decision.

personally, i'd go for both, and all things being equal id take the one which meant more to me (whatever my criteria for 'meant more' are, be it career or work satisfaction)

Ancient1

Personally i wouldn't go for an internship. Yes there are benefits, but why bother? If it's learning opportunities you're after and you think that this will benefit you in getting paid work later - ok - but i think you can and should just bypass that whole internship thing (or exploitation, as you called it )

Your field of study is not too far removed from what i did - International Relations / Diplomacy - and most of the guys i did the MA with landed good jobs in either the private or public sector.