Unpaid Internships: An Exploitation of the Masses?

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This summer you want to do something productive. With resources already limited in regard to the pandemic, you really don’t have much choice. Causing you to come to the decision that desperate times call for somewhat desperate measures, you indulge yourself into the somewhat controversial topic of; unpaid internships. Providing your summer for the sake of the experience of being an intern. This article will help you, through a relatable first-hand perspective, understand whether or not you should sign up for these unpaid internships.

The Backstory

If you’re in a university right now one of your biggest concerns and worries would be: how do I score my summer internship? As the average confused undergraduate, you apply to the same places your friends apply to because you don’t want to be singled out and more importantly, you don’t know what else to do.

Maybe you’ve been unlucky so far. Maybe you haven’t heard back from the dozens of places you applied to and now you’re disheartened and confused. So, one thing you try out is the unpaid internships that are in the corporate market these days. Most of these unpaid internships are startups, so it’s understandable that they can’t afford to pay you, you try reasoning with yourself.

This time you’re successful they call you back for the interview and you hear back in a few days and you’re in!

Absorbed with the excitement of finally getting into somewhere and being able to add something to your resume, you dismiss the fact that you won’t receive a stipend.

Maybe it won’t be that bad after all. Not like it’s a permanent position. Moreover, if it happens to be a work-from-home internship, in light of the recent pandemic, this is a win-win situation. Now, you don’t have to pay for transport, your costs are basically null.

Why do Unpaid Internships Exist?

But this isn’t the case, is it? You get there, you start, they give you a task, you complete it, they give you another task, then another, and another. Instinctively, at one point you ask yourself; is this worth it? What you signed up for? Why you’re waking up every day? Finally, is this why you want to wake up too?

The fact is; companies tend to exploit interns on the basis of these “unpaid internships”. Consequently paying interns the bare minimum or nothing at all and expecting them to work as full-time employees. Moreover, most of these companies are taking advantage of the pandemic situation and presenting the claim that they do not have the resources to pay interns.

This begs the question: if you do not have the resources to pay interns, should you even hire interns in the first place?

Analysis of Unpaid Internships

Many would argue no, and they would be right. Interns sacrifice a lot to do their work. As someone who has little experience in this matter, I can safely say that there is a lot of work involved. You wake up early, you sacrifice on your family time, your social time, the activities that you want to pursue.

You may not have transportation costs during this pandemic, but you definitely have some opportunity costs.

Moreover, you need to understand your worth. You have sacrificed a lot already to be where you are today. Spent so many days and nights and months to be the student or the graduate that you are today. You have spent so much money, so much time, and so much effort to be where you are today. Therefore, you need to understand, that you owe this much, to your parents, and more importantly to yourself, to be able to evaluate yourself accurately.

Final Thoughts On Unpaid Internships

It may be easy to say that you should wait for better internships, especially due to the pandemic situation. It is definitely harder to put this into practice. Nonetheless, never give up. Better opportunities will arise, and the pandemic will cease. One should not lose hope.

I believe the solution to this underlying problem is to firstly, inform your respective career offices in your institution about these exploitative practices, hiding under the guise of an unpaid internship. Secondly, warn others; once you’ve completed your internship, write about your experiences and share them with others. Consequently, this way you will be able to stop this vicious cycle.

The reason why these unpaid internships still exist is because there are people from good institutions who are interested in these programs. Once the demand dwindles, as will the supply. Additionally, interns feel better when they’re being compensated accordingly and might even show more productivity.

Let us know in the comments your thoughts about the culture of unpaid internships!