Students are often confused when choosing between internships or part-time jobs in Malaysia, during their vacations and free time.

Malaysian employers highly appreciate candidates with prior work experience and skills when choosing fresh graduates, working before joining full-time jobs is considered as making candidates “work ready”. Not only are candidates with work experience in part-time jobs in Malaysia quick in learning with a professional attitude, but they also contribute to the workforce almost immediately upon being hired.

However, students are often confused between the choice of working in part-time job opportunities or taking up internships. Both options can be demanding and valuable, however, when choosing between the two, the following factors should influence one’s decision,

Organizational Experience

• Part-Time Job: These jobs in Malaysia can provide candidates with work experience outside their field of study. This provides individuals a broader perspective of the corporate world. However, having a part-time job is as time-consuming as being employed in a full-time job.
• Internships: Internship usually provides students field-related experience in a job one expects to be doing in the future. However, summer internships last from 2 to 4 weeks which is a considerably short time to learn anything substantial. Some companies provide interns with minimal training and guidance, some make them perform administrative tasks only.

Significance

• Part-Time Job: Skills attained during a part-time job such as personality development, communication skills, accountability, leadership skills, teamwork, time, and money management are often transferable to any professional workspace and are never disregarded by future employers. The experience of this kind of job in KL or other cities in Malaysia might be considered as a reflection of an applicant’s adaptability and versatility.
• Internship: As internships are related to one’s career choice they prepare candidates for their future jobs, equipping them with skills relevant to the same. This can provide one an edge over their competition in the future.

Professional Network

Undertaking a part-time job or an internship allow individuals to work in a professional setting and acquaint themselves with people. This can help one gain important people skills.

• Part-Time Job: This kind of job increases one’s scope of connections outside their field. However, these connections might not be relevant to one’s career and may not lead to any future job opportunities.
• Internship: Internships are a great way of making connections with individuals within one’s industry, who may be a part of one’s future team or even be prospective employers. However, the short amount of time may not be sufficient to create a lasting impression.

Pay

• Part-Time Job: This kind of jobholder in Malaysia is paid a current minimum wage of RM 900 a month, which is a decent amount.
• Internship: Interns are not paid by most companies or firms. However, sometimes interns are provided with allowances or stipends which may help with travel and food expenditures.

How to choose between the two?

The choice between an internship or a part-time job solely relies on an individual’s objectives. An internship is vital in providing an industry-relevant experience that can prove beneficial in the long run to one’s career. However, if substantial pay and exposure outside one’s field is the objective a part-time job in Malaysia might be the right choice.