People have different opinions about whether unpaid internships are good or bad. Find out the pros and cons of unpaid internship from both the interns’ and the companies’ points of view.
Internships are an important part of training and education. A well-designed program allows students to gain experience and exposure in a real-world work setting, which can’t be done in a classroom.
Employers can also benefit from interns because they can get new ideas, improve their business, and help the workforce in many ways. This doesn’t mean that companies should see volunteers as cheap or even free labor to use.
Some organizations give interns good stipends to help them cover their costs, but some job programs still don’t pay interns in any way.
So, is a job that pays better than one that doesn’t pay? Here are some pros and cons of unpaid internships.
Pros of unpaid internship:
1. Valuable experience
The goal of any job is to learn something useful about the business world. You’ll definitely know more than you planned. You might learn how to write a professional email, file things, manage your time and plan, talk to other people at work, and learn about the internship and the job you’ll do.
2. Relevant field
An internship is not the same as a job you had in high school. Internships are chosen based on your career goals, so you’ll be working in an area that fits with what you want to do in the long run. Even if you don’t get paid for the internship, you still learn the ropes and lay the foundation for your future work.
3. University credits
Many internships let you get academic credit for your work, so even if you don’t get paid directly, you are still getting paid. By getting these credits, you lower the total number of credit hours you need to graduate. This makes it more likely that you will also graduate on time.
4. Networking
An internship is a great place to meet new people. Getting to know your coworkers, bosses, and other people you meet at work can open many doors to new opportunities. Your boss might be ready to write a letter of recommendation for you in the future. Maybe one of your coworkers knows someone who is looking to hire someone like you. Maybe you liked the job so much that you want to work for the same company after graduation. That’s great because you already have a foot in the door.
Cons of Unpaid Internship:
1. You’re not paid
Well, the first and most clear disadvantage is that you aren’t paid. Your job will take a lot of your time and effort, so it would be nice to get paid for it. An internship that doesn’t pay you adds to your financial stress because you’re not making any money toward your living bills or college costs.
2. Not enough financial skills
You aren’t getting paid, and you might not even get the financial knowledge that comes with a steady income. There won’t be personal business lessons like balancing a budget or other things that can come with paid internships.
3. Inequality
You’ve heard all the common ideas about interns: they get coffee, are the target of office jokes, and are at the bottom of the ladder. The lack of pay can make the gap between students and full-time workers even bigger. This could make the intern feel alone in how the company is set up. This is a sad option, but we hope it won’t happen.
4. Lots of tedious work
It can be tempting for workers, especially if the intern is not getting paid, to give all of the boring, menial tasks to the intern. As an intern, you’ll do a lot of important work, but some of the tasks you’ll be given will be boring or below your skill level. It’s just the way things are.
So, that’s what’s good and bad about it. It’s hard to say definitively whether an unpaid job is worth it. It depends on the person and their tasks for the internship. Before making a choice, it’s important to consider an internship’s pros and cons.
Visit Jobstore.com for general tips and help when you look for internships. Just search for “intern” or “internship” on Jobstore.com to find a wide range of opportunities in your area.
Related article: 7 Tips to Help Land Your Internship in Finance
Anisa is a writer who focuses on career and lifestyle topics in an effort to motivate both job searchers and employers towards greater fulfillment in their professional lives.
Reach me at anisa@jobstore.com.