You’ve been at college for a while now; studying for class, joining organizations that pique your interest, and building your skills to prepare for your career. But there’s something else that everyone else seems to be doing: internships.
Unfortunately, getting a college degree isn’t enough to secure employment anymore. Most companies want you to graduate with some field experience, adding another responsibility to the already packed schedules of college students. This is not to say that internships aren’t beneficial. They can equip you with a specific set of skills that will make transitioning into a career easier, and help explore your network and explore further opportunities.
Did you know that 43% of for-profit internships are unpaid? It doesn’t sound like it’s legal, but the Fair Labor Standards Act states that while for-profit employers must pay their employees for their work, “interns and students, however, may not be ‘employees’ under the FLSA–in which case the FLSA does not require compensation for their work.” So, besides not getting a paycheck, what’s the harm?
The Problem with Not Getting an Unpaid Internship
Unpaid internships are a barrier to experience. For example, many internships in the publishing industry require interns to relocate to New York City, but they don’t provide compensation. While they sometimes provide housing, this doesn’t include food, transportation, or other living expenses. In a city where the cost of living (not including rent) is $1,574 per month for a single person, this isn’t sustainable. This is a factor that prevents many underprivileged students from even applying to these internships, despite the fact that these companies are often looking to hire people from the same communities that they are excluding.
The Problem with Getting an Unpaid Internship
Unpaid internships are a contributing factor to the socioeconomic divide. Since there is a heavy emphasis on having an internship while in college, many people take unpaid opportunities despite not being able to afford it. The majority of unpaid interns are women, people of color, and first-generation students. These students devote their time and labor to these companies without compensation, making it more difficult for them to afford other expenses such as rent and food. While these internships may be providing experience, they’re also providing a lower quality of living and contributing to poor mental health. Consequently, these students are also graduating with more debt.
What Can I Do?
First off, don’t apply for unpaid internships. But if you’re offered an irresistible unpaid internship opportunity, you can reach out to your employer to discuss a stipend. This might be able to ease some of the expenses such as housing, food, or transportation. On an institutional level, colleges and universities can advocate for paid internships, provide internship-adjacent opportunities on campus, and create funding for students who may need to take on an unpaid internship.
In the English and Food Science and Technology departments at our very own Virginia Tech, we have a (fairly) new program called the Bridge Experience Program. If you’re looking for professional development opportunities, including internships, this program is an incredible resource. Contact Katherine Hall (kahall@vt.edu), the Bridge Experience Coordinator, for more information.
Best of luck in your professional development journey!
More Articles on Unpaid Internships:
- The Washington Post: “43 percent of internships at for-profit companies don’t pay. This man is helping to change that.”
- Harvard Business Review: “It’s Time to Officially End Unpaid Internships”
- Real Clear Education: “Three Ways Colleges and Universities Can Help Address Unpaid Internships”