Summer Internship Dilemma

So my current situation is that I have been interning unpaid at a boutique investment bank since the beginning of the semester, and I have the option of staying there through the summer. I'm learning a lot and I'm also doing a lot, so I wouldn't mind staying through the summer. However, it's unpaid and I would be living away from home. Another option is to find something paid, but I'm worried that it would look bad if it's not in IB if I'm definitely shooting for IB next summer.

Would it look weird that I did a gig in IB and then did something non-IB in finance over the summer (i.e. would firms wonder why I'm applying for IB if did IB and then went and did something else)?

Or does that not matter and would actually look good because it means I have a variety of experience?

Or if I end up staying at my current place, would it look good that I committed to one place for a solid 8 or so months and did a substantial amount of work during those 8 months?

I'm a little unclear as to how firms look at internships, so any light shed would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

5 Comments
 

If money is no object, stick with it. If you need the money to live, then make your choices accordingly.

Offshore liffe
 

The experience you got as an intern for the semester will look great on your resume. You should move on though if it is unpaid. You can use your experience at the firm to find a better job that is actually paid. A few companies on your resume looks good. It shows that companies want to hire you.

In pursuit of four monitors...
 

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