As college students, not only are we already starting to sink in the quick sand of student debt, but we are also struggling to keep our heads above water as the work place comes crashing in with all of its requirements. Furthering your education used to be centered around doing just that, education. School, homework, sleep, repeat. However, in today’s quickly shifting job market, a student is now expected to graduate in four years, have a good GPA, and have at least two internship experiences. Plus, of course, don’t forget that they also want employment references. So on top of being a full-time student, being involved in the community, and earning money to live… they want you to work for free: an internship.

That’s essentially what an internship is, isn’t it? Working without pay? It could seem unjust in some ways, and it doesn’t help pull you out of the current financial quicksand either. It’s a harsh truth, but it does reward you in other ways. Through an internship, you may be giving an employer what they want to see on paper, but you are also giving yourself a valuable experience.

Like higher education, an internship is an investment. You may not be getting money from it, but you are investing your time and still gaining skills in your field. It shows that you are willing to invest yourself into something that may not be monetarily rewarding you right now, but better yourself for the future. This proves to an employer that you think you have increased your value, and so will they.

While working without pay can be a downer, it does not hinder increasing your work ethic. There is definitely something to be said about money being an incentive to work, but in the case of an unpaid internship, that is not what you are working for. You are only working for what you want to get out of the intern position, which would be a lot if you were smart about it. Getting something good for your resume, something you can present to an employer to further your chances for a future opportunity should be just as much of a push. This still should still make you work hard, money or not.

Ultimately, whether you find yourself more in love with your field, or have learned that you need to change your course… you have gained one thing: connections. In the technology age, as well as in today’s economy, many positions are filled by word of mouth. Nothing could be as powerful as making connections. A connection could write you a letter of recommendation, put in a reference, or lead you to another opportunity you wouldn’t find otherwise. Don’t underestimate, it is all about connections.

Go out, take the unpaid position. Invest in yourself. Work hard. Make Connections. It’s worth it, and so are you.