Question:

I am struggling to find an internship for this summer. The only ones that I can find that would be career related are also unpaid. Last year and the year before, my career services office told me not to accept unpaid internships as they felt that employers offering unpaid internships were just trying to take advantage of students. I was able to find paid internships last year and the year before, but not this year. Should I accept an unpaid internship?

First Answer:

Your career services advisor is only have right. Any "freebie" job in which you're just expected to bring the coffee is one to avoid. However, not all internship experiences are created equal, and it would be a mistake for you to accept one just based on the salary. Since an internship is supposed to help you developed new skills, experiences, and contacts, I think it would be better for you to accept an unpaid internship in which you can meet these goals over a paying job that is basically "go-fer" experience. Of course, this is only an option if you can make do without the additional money you'd get from a paid position.

-- Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS®, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column

Second Answer:

Absolutely. It may be true that companies who offer unpaid internships are taking advantage of students. But ask yourself this question: What is the relationship between my goal of getting as much experience as possible so I'll be marketable to employers after graduation and companies that may be taking advantage of students by offering unpaid internships? The answer is that there is no relationship. Think Machiavellian here; this is a case where the ends, in all likelihood, justify the means. You do yourself no good in this situation by standing on principle.

Given the choice between being a new graduate armed with as much relevant experience as you could possibly get and being a candidate who shunned opportunity because of some advice that may or may not be valid, which would you rather be?

Consider also that the economy has changed since your career counselors first told you to spurn unpaid internships. Companies are cutting back, and it's logical that one of the first things to go would be paid internships. But at least they're still offering internships.

Now, granted, with two internships already under your belt, you're in much better shape that many other students. But unless you absolutely need the money, why not grab the opportunity to further build on your excellent experience?

-- Katharine Hansen, former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for the Web site, Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters

Third Answer:

The answer to this question can be found in my book, Don't Wait Until You Graduate! For your convenience, I'll provide it here:

I remember when I was in school, and often an issue that fellow students would have when it came to internships was whether or not to seek a paid opportunity, versus an unpaid one. Personally, I know that I didn't even want to consider an opportunity unless it included some kind of wage. But I began to think differently when hearing the experience of a friend of mine, who also graduated from OSU a few years ago.

Stacia Allen has worked in telecommunications at a video studio in Columbus since her junior year of college. Her first internship was a nonpaid position at Wendy's International.

"It seemed like everyone else in my field wanted internships to learn more, but they were insisting on paid internships," Allen recalls. "A friend told me that may not be the best way to go, and gave me names of other contacts who may help but unable to pay."

When Allen called Wendy's International, they were very helpful. "They said 'Sure! We don't pay, but you can do as many hours as you need for the credit. In that aspect, it was really cool because since they knew I wasn't getting paid, so they didn't give me just grunt work. They didn't take advantage of the fact that I was an intern, and went out of their way to teach me. I began learning the very first day, and they took the time to help me."

Allen also says that those first mentors were also helpful in guiding her in class projects.

After some time at Wendy's, another friend asked Allen to do "craft services," for a video shoot that was to last a week. Having no idea what craft services were, she said yes anyway.

"I then found out that it was making sure that the food and refreshments were set up on the location shoot. It was a great way to start, and before I knew it, others were asking me to do craft services for them, and asking me for my business card. They even passed my name onto other people they knew. And I was only a junior in college!"

That led indirectly to her current professional position. An instructor at school suggested that she check it out. "I went in without a resume, only leaving my name and number with the owner. Eventually, he called me, and asked for a rundown of my experience."

"When I said that I did craft services, he was immediately impressed. How many college juniors know what craft services are? I got the job. And with no resume."

He later pointed out that he gets tons of resumes each day, but hasn't the time to sort through them. He needed someone right away, and I was the one at arms length.

Allen sees the importance of making valuable use of your time, no matter what year you are in school. "I waited tables for 3-1/2 years, and made some very good money, working with other college graduates."

"But they were still waiting tables," Allen continues. "It was good money, and they couldnt handle the pay cut of starting at the bottom in their field. As a result, they finish school, never to go anywhere else. These guys were accountants and stuff like that...and still serving tables."

"I realized that the longer I stayed there, the more I would fall behind. Finally, I said, 'I gotta get out of this, despite the money."

Allen's advice to students: "The best time to take a pay cut was while I was in school, and to start at the bottom right now, instead of waiting until graduation."

-- Keith F. Luscher, Creative Director with Goettler Associates, Inc., a fund-raising consulting firm serving non-profit organizations nationwide, and author of Don't Wait Until You Graduate!

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