Are unpaid internships the way to go for people that have nice parents?

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It really depends one the person and their goals. Personally, I never even considered doing an unpaid internship. Even doing grunt work is worth minimum wage. I left the University of New Mexico because the head of my dept. hired students to work at the ski resort he owned in return for school credit. Sounds fine right? He also had them create travel packages for his resort and put his own name on them. What that means is he got a fee every time someone booked a package. Too sleazy for me.

 

[Dumac]

Paid internship = really good

Unpaid internship = probably still good if you don't need the $$$

No internship = shooting yourself in the foot come graduation

 

[kyrax12]

Paid internship = really good

Unpaid internship = probably still good if you don't need the $$$

No internship = shooting yourself in the foot come graduation

It's not too late to get an unpaid internship after graduation right?

 

[gorcorps]

Considering that perhaps a few members reading this are high school students or college freshmen,

When you get to college. Look at the other students in your major. You are competing with them. They are your competitors. Work your ass off in your major, kiss your professor's ass. Ask professors if they have research or anything else you can do, starting during your freshman year.

When it's internship time, you have a hell of a lot better chance at getting a good, paid internship.

True

Also (this will vary by school) don't ignore career fairs. I got both of my paid internships at my school career fair, and those internships definitely helped me get the job I was looking for (which I also got at the career fair).

 

[JM Aggie08]

I didn't have any internships prior to entering the workforce. Instead, I worked part-time jobs that were geared toward the field I was about to enter. Seemed to work out fine for me.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Even if I was rich, and wanted to work, I would still like to get osme money,.. so I would never be an unpaid intern.

I would volunteer,.. but, thats about it.

 

[sze5003]

Internship for me was required. Luckily it was paid but I got good experience. I have a ton of student loans anyway my parents could not help. Turns out I need to help them 90% of the time. I also did unpaid internships and part time valet parking during weekends for money. Would loose the weekend but I had spending cash.

 

[nageov3t]

depending on the field.

when I was in school, I really wanted to get into publishing (on the editing side)... in that field, at the time 99.9% of internships were unpaid. unfortunately, there was no way I could afford to go an entire summer without an income, since I tended to bust my ass working as much as possible to make enough money to last the next school year (living near NYC, I could easily make $10-13/hour temping, whereas jobs in my rural mountain college town were lucky to pay a penny above minimum wage)

after graduation, when it came time to enter the job market, I felt like I was totally fucked by not having any connections/networking within the industry, unlike my more financially well-off peers, who had the luxury of doing unpaid internships every summer on their parents' dime. after giving it a good shot, I eventually said fuck it and took the first job that paid enough for me to move out on my own, regardless of the field.

 

[SheHateMe]

Unpaid internships? Companies still do that?


I guess it depends on what field you're studying. Most internships for STEM fields pay....because if they don't, nobody will want to intern there. If a company really values its interns, they will pay.

 

[shadow9d9]

Based on this and your above post: You are a true modern liberal.

"unless you think exactly like me you are wrong and should not have an opinion".

Good luck with your new world order

you fuckin psycho.

No one more psycho and bitter on these forums than you. Everyone is to blame but yourself.

 

[Mixolydian]

"nice parents"?

 

[nageov3t]

Unpaid internships? Companies still do that?


I guess it depends on what field you're studying. Most internships for STEM fields pay....because if they don't, nobody will want to intern there. If a company really values its interns, they will pay.

my impression is that unpaid internships are the norm in creative/entertainment fields (eg: interning for a magazine, radio station, etc), but much less so in science/engineering fields.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'm not sure why you think your two anecdotal situations prove anything, least of all explain why you think mmntech is ignorant.

Unpaid internships are just a way for companies to get people to do work for them for free. Yes, the odd one or two people may get a job from it but that's not the norm.

It's exploitation and nothing more.

There are only so many paid internships, want experience and want to network with people that can get you a job then volunteer or get an unpaid internship. When I was an undergrad, I volunteered at a student run Credit Union and eventually worked my way to the Board of Directors. That experience got me multiple job offers in my junior/senior years. Do I feel exploited? Not at all. Oh, I also worked nights delivering food. Motivation and work ethic, something many folks don't have here.

Let me know how many paid internships are available in the Federal court systems. And other industries which experience and a portfolio will put you ahead of those that don't coming out of school.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

The problem is that some unpaid internships are blatant searches for free labor. The programs offer no networking possibilities, teach nothing and those who run them are only concerned with what you already know and how much work they can squeeze out of you.

People sued and won.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/b...or-interns-who-sued-fox-searchlight.html?_r=0

There are certain requirements for unpaid internships. The interns can't displace current workers and there must be an educational/training factor to it along with a few other things.

 

[Dumac]

It's not too late to get an unpaid internship after graduation right?

Uhhh I guess not...but I wouldn't recommend waiting until that long to get an internship. Your goal should be full time (paid) employment out of graduation.

 

[shortylickens]

No one more psycho and bitter on these forums than you. Everyone is to blame but yourself.

Damn right.
So whats your excuse for being a dumb wise and beautiful woman?

 

[sze5003]

Damn is that really necessary? Why do people get so worked up over the stupidest things ?

 

[Veliko]

There are only so many paid internships, want experience and want to network with people that can get you a job then volunteer or get an unpaid internship. When I was an undergrad, I volunteered at a student run Credit Union and eventually worked my way to the Board of Directors. That experience got me multiple job offers in my junior/senior years. Do I feel exploited? Not at all. Oh, I also worked nights delivering food. Motivation and work ethic, something many folks don't have here.

So you worked for free yet you don't feel exploited?

And anyone who objects to working for free is lacking in motivation and work ethic...?

 

[Capt Caveman]

So you worked for free yet you don't feel exploited?

And anyone who objects to working for free is lacking in motivation and work ethic...?

I'm guessing you've never done volunteer work? No, I don't feel exploited. I volunteered, gained experience that led to gaining responsibilities very few would gain at that age which led to multiple job opportunities before I even graduated.

And I never said anyone that works for free is lacking motivation or work ethic. But you read here, people that wouldn't want to do something unpaid b/c they a need job to pay for college. I did both and I'm not alone.

 

[Ns1]

So you worked for free yet you don't feel exploited?

And anyone who objects to working for free is lacking in motivation and work ethic...?

Well, when you need experience you don't have many options

1) suck it up and get an unpaid internship to get experience in your field
2) continue looking for work and hope to get a job in your fiend
3) continue looking for work and hope you get any job
4) stop looking for work and go home

 

[Veliko]

Well, when you need experience you don't have many options

1) suck it up and get an unpaid internship to get experience in your field
2) continue looking for work and hope to get a job in your fiend
3) continue looking for work and hope you get any job
4) stop looking for work and go home

You are completely and utterly missing the point.

 

[sze5003]

What he means is people with unpaid internships lack motivation to learn and gain experience.

 

[Ns1]

You are completely and utterly missing the point.

meh. with so many millennial threads this week i've reached burnout and don't care anymore.

 

[Veliko]

I'm guessing you've never done volunteer work? No, I don't feel exploited. I volunteered, gained experience that led to gaining responsibilities very few would gain at that age which led to multiple job opportunities before I even graduated.

I've done volunteer work, yes, when I helped out with a local Scout group. That was something I willingly did in my own free time but wasn't tied to my ability to buy food and pay rent.

And I never said anyone that works for free is lacking motivation or work ethic. But you read here, people that wouldn't want to do something unpaid b/c they a need job to pay for college. I did both and I'm not alone.

So precisely what is wrong with being unwilling to work for free?

The fact that you were is immaterial and there's something wrong with you if you can't see why these unpaid internships are little more than exploitation.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've done volunteer work, yes, when I helped out with a local Scout group. That was something I willingly did in my own free time but wasn't tied to my ability to buy food and pay rent.



So precisely what is wrong with being unwilling to work for free?

The fact that you were is immaterial and there's something wrong with you if you can't see why these unpaid internships are little more than exploitation.

And here is your problem. Really not worth discussing it anymore if you didn't read anything I posted already. Being responsible for tens of millions of dollars in assets is immaterial. Or that it's experience gained that you may not get elsewhere.