Unpaid Internships: Are They Worth It?
by Piper Langenfeld
Unpaid internships have been a hot topic in the U.S. ever since apprenticeships went out of style. Internships, paid or not, are often viewed as a way for companies to get work done cheaply. In all fairness, that is sometimes the case—work being shoved onto an unsuspecting teenager with the assumption that they’ll be none the wiser. However, as a former unpaid intern at Annapolis Moms Media, I can safely say that internships can, and always should be, a mutually-beneficial relationship, where the company receives help and the intern receives connections and experience. What is an internship? An internship is, as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting.” for unpaid internships. One of the biggest benefits of being an intern is learning the reality of your field of choice. Many young people go into an internship with a romanticized version of their dream profession, and walk out with an idea of the hours, the work, and the kind of people they might interact with if they continue on that path. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, interns, “do not replace employees, but work under close supervision.” An intern should never be given work that’s demeaning or impossible, and there should always be a mentor ready to help them through every step of the process. Interns of all kinds are investments, and tasks should never be dumped on them but assigned and explained. Unpaid vs paid In layman's terms, internships are meant to be educational at their core, especially Generation Z, which I am a part of, is known for viewing unpaid internships as flatout evil. Many young people call them pointless, a waste of time, and even exploitative. It is true that paid internships have certain
benefits that unpaid ones do not. A paid internship is 32% more likely to lead to a full time job than an unpaid internship. In fact, according to NACE, paid interns average 1.4 job offers, while unpaid ones only average 0.9. However, everybody's experience with internships may be different depending on the company you select. I interned at a small, local business instead of a large, corporate office, and that’s the best thing that I could’ve done for myself. According to Internship USA, “At smaller
companies, you may have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects and see the direct impact of your work. Smaller companies have fewer employees, and your ideas, initiative, and creativity will be valued.” I have found all
Internships are meant to give you experience and connections.
of this to be true, and my opinion is valued at Annapolis Moms in spite of my age and lack of professional employment. So, are unpaid internships worth it? In my opinion, yes, unpaid internships can be absolutely worth it! My best advice is to go into an internship ready to learn without any resentment about what you could be earning in a different situation. Internships are meant to give you experience and connections. Even if the company you are interning for can’t offer you a paid position, you’re still gaining more advantages than if you had not taken an internship at all. There are benefits and risks to everything, but as long as you research an internship that aligns with your values, you may gain more than you’d imagine. Sources: “Internship Meaning and Definition: A NACE Guide.” NACE, 6/26/24 “Internship Guide for State of Maryland Agencies.” Maryland, 6/26/24 Fennel, Andrew, “Internship Statistics U.S. 2023.” StandOut CV, 6/27/24 Gatta, Mary, “The Class of 2023: Inequity Continues to Underpin Internship Participation and Pay Status.” NACE, 6/27/24 “Interning for Big Companies vs Small Companies.” Internship USA, 7/16/24
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