Today’s youngest members of the workforce are considered the most educated in history, but they are not getting jobs. Rather, they are taking unpaid internships.
Where am I getting this information? From a new infographic that was put out by OnlineCollegeCourses.com. In the infographic, I learned that studies show students who intern without receiving pay in return tend to learn less, perform more menial tasks, and be hired on full-time at a lower rate than students who are paid for their internships. It also goes on to say the intern actually ends up PAYING for the internship, as they have to pay for their college education.
If you’re a student reading this right now, don’t freak out! When I interned in college in 2004, my internship was unpaid, but at the for-profit company I worked for, I received credits put towards my PR major. Ultimately, the internship wasn’t really beneficial to where I wanted to go. In college, I was adamant I wanted to work in PR at an agency, and I ended up getting there (and still am there today! yeah, goal setting!) My internship was working in the promotions department of a radio station. It was fun, I learned some, but the tasks I did were not beneficial to helping me land an agency job. (That was my fault though, since I didn’t put enough time and effort into my search.) So, what I did after I graduated was network, network, network. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know how adamant I am on that. I am still a pro-networker, if I do say-so myself. The first job I ended up getting after college (that was relevant) was a PR apprentice in an ad agency (which was basically an internship). It was paid, offering me real skills I still use today.
So what’s a college student to do? I say — if you are in an unpaid position and not doing the tasks you want to be doing, speak up and ask! The worse they can say is no. If you’re looking for a job and get an interview, ask what you’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis to make sure it’s beneficial to both you and the employer. Sometimes, unpaid is all you can get to acquire experience, and you can’t be picky. It’s sort of a catch-22. So speak up and make sure it’s worth your while. If it’s not – at least get involved in professional organizations, and look elsewhere. Yes, paid is best, but if you’re getting the experience you need at an unpaid position, by all means, rock it! You may need to supplement with a paid position elsewhere like a server or retail job, but it will be worth it in the end.
What are your thoughts on paid vs. unpaid? Take a look at the infographic below and leave your opinion in the comments.
Infographic Source: Online College Courses
Image Source
Alex Romano says
I ended up graduating a semester earlier than I anticipated (graduated in May from Clarion University) and never had the chance to intern for credit. Luckily, through some networking, I was able to land an interview for a paid internship last December. I ended up getting the job and started with the company right out of school, literally two days later graduation. The internship was technically a “Summer internship” but I was recently asked to stay until January 1st. I’m hoping this is their way of attempting to keep me onbaord afterwards for the sake of having a job. Not to mention to get some more experience!
Personally, the thought of looking for a permanent position gives me a headache because of the whole experience issue. Although I have been at this job for some time now, I wonder, are employers going to think that’s enough experience? I majored in Communication and concentrated in Advertising, so I hope to land a job in a Pittsburgh agency eventually. I am currently working in a Marketing and Communications Dept but not sure how how to land an agency job without agency experience. I’m honestly just not sure where to start. I hope you can give me some insight!
Thanks Deanna, great post 🙂
Deanna says
Thanks for the comment, Alex! In agency world, it’s a catch 22. “You won’t hire me because I don’t have agency experience, but how am I supposed to get experience if you don’t hire me?”
In my opinion, it’s much easier to get into an agency at a younger age. If you have no agency experience at age 45, but want to work in an agency, it’s not going to work. I’ve never heard of a 45 year old assistant AE!
But if you’re 25, use the skills you’ve acquired to let the agency people know how they can be used at their agency. Example: Do you work with other departments or groups of people to project manage or help move projects along? That’s comparable to working within departments of an agency and with clients. Have multiple projects at once? Bam — agency.
Not getting the experience you want at your current place of work? Ask for more. Be specific.
Good luck!