Internships: working for free pays off in long run
by Amanda Smith
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Companies are being affected by the recent downturn in the economy and are offering students fewer paid internships. However, students might benefit more from unpaid internships.

Unpaid internships can be more beneficial because employees may be less likely to require interns to perform clerical duties and the skills listed on their resumes will consist of more than typing, filing and making coffee.

During my second year of college I was a paid intern, but I spent the majority of my time making copies and performing other mundane tasks. Because they were paying me by the hour, it was irrelevant to them whether my tasks were related to my field of study. It did not take long to realize that being paid was not helpful since I only made about $50 weekly. In retrospect, I should have taken the time to research unpaid internships and asked for guidance from a career counselor.

Without such help, your internship could become a nightmare - what I call a "go-fer" ship.

Several years have passed, and I am again contemplating an internship. What company will allow me to apply my classroom knowledge? Can I survive financially? One mistake I will not repeat is to take the first position offered. I will also make better use of available resources. For instance, I will visit the career and counseling center to help determine which companies match my career objectives - a wise step for most seeking internships. A career counselor can offer specific information on employers, such as their industry information, entry-level position descriptions, and track record for hiring graduates. In addition, Internet job search sites, such as jobweb.com and collegegrad.com, can be useful tools in narrowing a broad search for internships that best fit career and educational goals.

Placement services may also provide students with valuable information regarding internships. For example, INROADS, Inc. is a non-profit organization that will recruit and match college students with companies that offer internships.

When doing research, be sure to understand what you need to gain from the internship. For example, inquire about the kind of duties you will be performing to determine how much classroom theory you will use. While the company has an opportunity to observe your work habits and potential as a permanent employee, you have the same opportunity to determine whether the company meets your expectations as well. You can determine the type of setting you like, whether you enjoy working on team projects or alone, and how well you respond to different levels of pressure. Even though you might not be paid as an intern, the temporary position you have may actually lead to a permanent position in the future.

For those who work full time, many colleges offer classes in lieu of internships; however, this may prevent students from having the opportunity to apply what they have learned to a career related to their field of study.

Many students who work full time and have family obligations view unpaid internships as undesirable or an unrealistic requirement. However, unpaid internships may pay off in the future by securing a paid position that will ultimately make up for lost income.