EA job while student?

I work at a national magazine in a small publishing company. Our in-office staff is tiny (editor, assistant editor, editorial assistant, and intern). I’ve been an intern here for 8 months but I’m also a senior in college (3 semesters to go). Our EA has resigned and I believe my editor is offering me the job. This is not uncommon where I work.

Has anyone else worked an EA or similiar job while a student? I’d love to hear stories. I was looking forward to having a normal everyday class schedule without devoting whole days to commuting/working, but this is a huge offer. How much would it help applying for internships in the future, and so on?

Very good article written by

It's definitely possible!

I was in your same position last summer. I had interned at my publishing company for almost a year when I was promoted to editorial assistant and was ecstatic! It was most definitely a tough 3 quarters for me though because I was balancing a full-time school load while working in the office 20 hours/week and writing stories on the weekends. The biggest problem I came across was trying to fit all my classes into 3 days so that I could work the other two days.

Taking the job was definitely worth it because I got to sort of skip the freaking out process most of my friends went through wondering where they would work post graduation. And I also got promoted to assistant editor the month I graduated and had a much easier time applying for mid-level positions because I had a year of being an EA under my belt and I had a lot of experience from working in such a small office. I wouldn’t have done it any other way even though it was a really tough senior year.

Hmmm...

Thanks for your response!

I know an EA position will be great for my resume, but I really want a major internship next summer (last summer before I graduate). Will it benefit or hurt me that I’ve been an EA? I don’t want them to pass me by because they feel I don’t need an internship opportunity… or maybe it would impress them. I don’t know.

Also: My publishing company is great, but not sure I would work there after graduation, let alone for a few years in the future.

I've been in exact same position

Hi onceinawhile,
I was where you are a year ago. I became an EA for a niche lifestyle publication at the end of my junior year. I loved the environment, however, I didn’t think it was a place I would want to work long-term.

When I was offered an internship with a major media company in New York, I took it. And it was the best experience ever!!! Even though I’ve since decided I want to do magazine marketing instead of editorial, the connections I made in The City were invaluable. Plus, everyone - including my bosses at the lifestyle mag - were impressed that I had big aspirations. My advice to you: take the internship and remain in contact with people at your current job. If you leave on good terms, you can always return to them for a reference, advice or even a new position if one opens up and you want to return. Hope that helps.

~Aspiringmediamaven*

Living every day to the fullest

Thanks for the advice!

Yeah, the EA position may be up in the air and I only may return as an intern - but I know I’ll give them the option of re-hiring me. Plus I definitely plan on staying on good terms with them.

I’ve been there for 8 months now, so I know it’s a solid addition to my resume (or at least I hope!).