As the United States workforce changes, internships are an increasing necessity for college graduates. I mean, have you seen the average entry-level job posting? Some ask for five years of relevant experience. Five!
Five years ago, I thought I wanted to be a defense attorney. Now, I happily work at a library. People change. Goals change. Careers change. Our generation is in a unique, messy situation. I often hear that an undergraduate degree is the new high school diploma. Harsh, eh?
The average amount of student debt is high enough to make anybody's head spin, so it's disappointing to see so many graduates accepting unpaid internships just to climb the corporate ladder.
When I've argued against unpaid internships in the past, I've heard some clichés and excuses.
"It's not about what you know. It's about who you know!"
The sole purpose of an internship should not be to network. Internships should be about learning whether or not you fit with a company or career path. Thanks to an internship, I know that I cannot work in sales. I'm an introvert, and I wasn't a decent salesperson.
"We don't pay our interns because it should be about the experience, not money."
If I can't drive to an internship because I can't afford gas, isn't that also a problem? I'm not asking you to fund my Starbucks obsession. I'm asking for fair compensation for my hard work. (I should note that this is all figurative language. I'm not an intern, and I thoroughly enjoy my current job.)
"I gave you work that I would normally do."
Woah, Lassie. Aren't you pushing the law?
There are six legal requirements (under the Fair Labor Standards Act) for unpaid internships, but they apply to for-profit companies.
Those who accepted paid internships at private, for-profit companies have also had better luck landing high-paying job offers after graduation. Those who had no internships at all even fared better than their unpaid peers.
"Just get another job."
Sometimes, getting a second job isn't an option. Sometimes, the phone never rings. Sometimes, you'll be denied a part-time job because you already have too many other commitments.
I'm not your volunteer. I'm your employee.
Now, I'm not discrediting the value of volunteer work. Volunteer work can be excellent for a person's health. However, there should be a separation between your work life and your do-gooder life, and an internship qualifies as work.
So, what are some possible solutions?
There should be clear laws to protect interns, whether they work at a for-profit company, a non-profit company, or a government institution. These hypothetical laws should also clearly define the difference between an intern, a job shadower, and a volunteer. Employers will begin to see interns in a different light. Interns are valued employees, not coffee wranglers. Leave the coffee wrangling to job shadowers and volunteers. (Job shadowing and volunteering matters, too!)
For example, writing internships could pay per word or article. Other internships could pay per project. Organizations can offer a stipend. There are possibilities. You just have to look for them. And yes, you have to budget for them. If you can't afford an intern, don't hire an intern.
I have high hopes for our generation. When we finally reach the top of the corporate ladder, we need to remember where we started, and how difficult things were for us.
Our generation is not lazy or unworthy. Our ideas matter.
