Are student internships a waste of time, or do they contribute to your career in the long run?

College has finally closed for the summer, and you have a choice -- either while your time away in leisure, enjoying your holiday, or choose to take up an office job for a couple of months and gain some insight into a corporate setup. On the one hand you want to make the most of free time, on the other you want to get a head start on your career.

Does it make sense to spend your vacation as a teenager tucked into an office, where you're barely earning anything more than a travelling stipend? What good comes of it? How do you sign up for an internship programme, and make the best of it?

Have you ever interned at an office while on holiday? Did you enjoy the experience, and did it help your career in any way? Would you advise other youngsters to opt for internships or not? We invite our readers to share their experiences and opinions with us.