By Laura Onyeneho
Picture yourself as a bright-eyed college graduate with big goals, eager to land your first job to kick-start your career.
But then you’re mindlessly scrolling the endless lists of job listings to discover that you need maybe more than a year’s worth of work experience for an entry-level job.
Now, it becomes a double-edged sword. To get the job, you need experience, but if you don’t have experience, you can’t get the job.
Internships act as a bridge between that limbo phase, but what happens when you stumble upon an unpaid one?
What Do You Do?
These days, current graduates avoid unpaid internships like the plague, especially during these challenging economic times. This has been a controversial topic, especially when considering the experiences of Black students facing systemic challenges.
As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, more people are struggling just to get their foot in the door. If you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, the hope is that with enough knowledge and discernment, you can make the right decisions that align with your current situation.
The global impact of COVID-19 has led to an increase in the popularity of virtual internships because it has impacted company budgets and prompted organizations to quickly adjust to working from home.
Students are now left looking for work experience possibilities due to canceling numerous typical internships. These remote internships often pay differently than many traditional in-person internships.
Advocates for unpaid internships emphasize the invaluable hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and resume enhancement they offer. Jane Doe, a spokesperson for the National Internship Association, asserts, “Unpaid internships can be stepping stones to success, providing crucial exposure to the professional world.”
Doe explained that internships help you receive valuable feedback from professionals and can indicate what you genuinely want to do in your future.
“Graduates find it much simpler to find jobs if they have relevant work experience. The practical skills learned depend equally on industry knowledge and insight,” she said.
Critics Point to Systemic Inequities
Only some people are a good fit for an unpaid internship because it also comes at a cost, and many contend that it significantly impedes social mobility.
According to research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, paid internships help students get a job faster, get more offers, and start earning more money. This is especially true for the first job after graduation.
Employers interested in leveraging their internship programs to feed full-time hiring typically pay their interns, which allows them to give their interns “real work” and, thus, a real crack at showing their abilities. The practice of paying interns is also supposed to support the quality of the candidate pool, ensuring that the opportunity is open to everyone, not just those able to forgo a paycheck for the summer.
On average, paid interns received almost twice as many job offers as unpaid interns, while both fared better than those with no intern experience.
The survey also found that the median starting salary for paid interns was $62,500 compared to $42,500 for unpaid interns.
Mars Dean-Burren is a University of Houston-Downtown transfer student and Community Engagement Coordinator at HYPE Freedom Schools. His first unpaid internship was an on-campus transcription position for a professor at Howard University. As a history major, he found his role extremely valuable, but the problem was juggling full-time coursework and balancing the duties of unpaid work.
“I tried to save money to make the internship worthwhile,” he said. “The idea of giving 15 hours of free labor a week, on top of 15 hours of classes, you only have 10 or 15 hours left to work a job that pays. The cost outweighs the benefit in the long term unless you are financially supported, and I wasn’t.”
Burren encourages students to seek paid internships regardless of how an employer says otherwise.
“Working for free doesn’t pay bills,” he said. “There is no way you could enter a stage in your life in adulthood in this country where you don’t have financial obligations. Any job that will hire you for free, I guarantee another person will hire you to do the same and pay you.”
The Defender asked several young professionals about their unpaid internship experience, and we’ve compiled a few lessons that might benefit you.
Ask an Employer for Some Form of Compensation
Ask your manager for compensation, like a transportation or food stipend. Contact your college career services department for alternative funding sources if something else is needed.
Find a Mentor
Talk to someone who can help guide and keep you accountable for your learning. This person will also be a good resource if your internship manager can’t be hands-on with your experience.
Push Your Agenda
You know what you need to get ahead. Research the skills required for the future job you want to pursue, then talk to the internship manager and negotiate your duties.
Network Network Network
A lot of hiring doesn’t happen online, but rather who you’re connected with. Sending cold emails is a method, but you must tap into your circle to get your foot in the door. Make connections at the internship and follow up with them. Inform them about your progress. Let them know what your goals are. You might be on top of mind in job openings.