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It sounds crazy, but check out this NY Times article about parents that are spending big bucks to help their kids get unpaid internships.
What's so interesting to me is the part where they discuss whether buying your way in gives you an advantage--which, clearly it does.
But do you need the big bucks just to sift through junk mail and fetch coffee?
Do you know anyone who has done this? I'm interested in hearing from you!
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Comments
08.10.09
These types of stories used to make me angry. Now they just make me depressed.
It seems like the companies that sell these internships defend themselves as doing students a major service. There claim, after all, is that finding a short-term apartment lease in New York City or London is very difficult and that they guarantee stress-free accommodations for the internship period.
On the other hand, I’ve always thought internships were supposed to be about “real world” experiences, as opposed to the “fantasy world” experience that college has essentially turned into. Finding a place to live, feeding yourself, etc. are all things that adults have to learn to deal with.
Unpaid internships will be a financial burden on those less well-off, no matter the circumstances. But it seems like a thrifty person could arrange to do an unpaid internship in NYC for a lot less than the $8000 that some pay. Yes, it might mean staying with a friend or relative. It might mean living in Queens or New Jersey rather than Manhattan. Unfortunately, it seems like the premium cost isn’t just buying you a decent apartment and a meal-plan, it’s buying the opportunity itself.
08.10.09
This article topic comes out yearly. It seems to toggle between NY Times and the Wall Street Journal. As a former head of campus recruiting for a major media company, I have hired interns from these companies, and I find that these companies offer legitimate experience and services. I agree that you can get internships on your own and find housing on your own and get the professional development services and networking on your own, but as with other things that are being outsourced, the work to pull these things all together is being outsourced to these companies.
It does raise equity issues about access for candidates who can't afford these fees, but that's a broader issue that is not about these companies but rather about employment in general and how so many necessary internships are unpaid, low paid, or very difficult to obtain without connections.
08.10.09
Kristen, that's a very interesting article.
I also am a big proponent of internships. I completed five when I was in college, three of them being unpaid. I also worked to make money and my college required we do at least 1 internship for credit but always pushed for more. I have to say that the experience is what pays off. Only one internship I had was I photo copying and doing coffee runs and even then, I still had additional projects.
Internships get a bad rap. But honestly, everyone starts at the bottom somewhere. My current employer said I was set above all the other recent grads because of my level of experience that I had just through college and also it shows the kind of drive. However, you don't need big bucks to sift through mail like you said.
I wrote a blog post how internships are necessary, even if they are unpaid. There are always ways to work around this and my parents didn't have to pay big bucks for me to work for free. I paid for most of my expenses in college and they helped with tuition. Everyone is different, but the wide array of experience and networking has paid off immensely from my internships. This should be a good discussion, I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the comments :)
08.10.09
I am torn about this issue. As a student currently working two internships (neither of which is paid) I can certainly appreciate their value. For the one, I am getting invaluable experience learning to tailor my writing to be search engine optimized, not just when building pages but within the content itself.
For the other, I am working with a website that is allowing me to feel closer than I ever thought possible to my beloved Cleveland Browns, all the while working with SEO tagging and a little bit of social media.
The experiences thus far have been great, and the reason I have been able to work on both of these internships at once with them being unpaid is this: I am working online from my home here in Athens. I am still able to work the job I've had for the past two years to keep an income flowing in.
These programs seem great if you have the money, but at the same time, is it not reasonable that interns who are forced to relocate be compensated for their work and expenses? Are we not people too? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
During my last round of searching for an internship, I was shocked at the enormous work loads that many potential employers looked to dump on unpaid interns. I am all for networking, gaining invaluable firsthand experience, and all the other buzz words employers use describing these unpaid positions, but I also believe that experiences and memories don't pay the rent.
I have always been one to recognize the extablished order of things: I was happy to retrieve balls my first year on the soccer team in high school and write cue cards when I began my time on a local comedy show. However, with the amount of work that many interns are asked to complete, to be paid minimum wage is the very least employers should do.
It's an unfortunate time for people of this generation, with nearly 3.5 seekers for every job position (according to a Dan Schawbel post from earlier this year) it's becoming more and more difficult to find employment. However, that does not justify companies taking advantage of current students and recent graduates and not giving any compensation.
Or maybe I'm just an idealist.
08.10.09
Rather than paying a company to pull together all my logistics for my internship, I worked two internships this summer--but not at the same time. My first one in Corporate America paid me well, provided me with subsidized housing, and even a free rental car. I used my earnings from my first internship to sustain me during the second half of my summer where I am working in media and entertainment doing something I love. I may not leave the summer with as much saved up as I could have, but I won't have gone into (more) debt and I will have seen what it's like to work in a cubicle and to work where the action is. This tactic is not for the faint of heart, though. I found myself daydreaming during my corporate job a lot. Never take a job for the money or for the prestige. But it might not be so bad to take one temporarily that will subsidize the job you love.
08.10.09
I don't know anyone who has paid to get an unpaid internship like that, but it doesn't surprise me that it happens.
It did remind me of this funny article I read---from Stuff White People Like:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/07/20/104-unpaid-internships/
In my opinion, the best internships are the ones you learn the most from, hands down.
08.10.09
I agree that internships provide invaluable opportunities and a leg-up in a competitive market. I do however question this ability to pay as being a rather prestigious place to come from.
I know both sorts of people. The people who work their butts off to be able to go on unpaid internships doing what they have to, so they can do what they want to. And then those who drive their fancy cars to a corporate office to fetch coffee.
I wonder if the value is different for both. Is it something that will truly add value to your repertoire or is it just something to do in the summertime.
08.11.09
Internships should be given to those that deserve it and not to those who have parents that can afford it. Maybe the rich kid isn't as smart as the poor kid. Does this mean that they cannot have the same opportunity? Internships should also not take jobs away from people who have families to feed. casino en ligne
08.11.09
Very impressive, Grace! Five internships?!?! I had one. haha.
You bring up a great point about internships that I'm going to blog about today over at http://www.ramenrentresumes.com. Thanks for reading!
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08.17.09
Grace, 5 internships is great!
Though I don't know anyone who has paid for an unpaid internship, I know it does happen. It actually reminds me of how parents can lock in tuition for a certain college when their children are still very young (think elementary or middle school). Though it doesn't guarantee admission, it ensures you won't fall victim to tuition hikes. And if your child doesn't get into that college, you get your money back. Certainly puts pressure on the kids, too!
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