Why Should I Take an Unpaid Internship?

It is a tough job market out there today and many companies are making big changes to internship programs.  If they are not cutting back on their programs, they are only offering unpaid opportunities. Helping out at the Career Center here at Loyola, I have run into a ton of students who are not applying for internships simply because they are unpaid. I’ve heard answers such as:

I don’t want to waste my time

If it’s unpaid, it isn’t worth it

I’ll just go back to my old job until I can find a paid internship

While they are all valid statements, there are some crucial benefits that internships (even the unpaid ones) can offer. I recently facilitated an Alumni panel discussion at the Career Center entitled “Making the Most of Your Internship.” The Alums had several good reasons to take an unpaid internship.

Let’s take a look at a few:

• Experience. There is no price tag you can put on the valuable experience you can gain through interning (of course, you get out of it what you put in). And with the market the way it is today, any opportunity to gain a competitive advantage should not be overlooked.  Internships provide chances to learn the ropes and can help you to develop the skill sets to succeed in your field!

• Networking. Nowadays, they say it is who you know, not necessarily what you know. Internships give you the opportunity to expand your network, especially with professionals in your field. You never know who someones knows, so every contact is valuable! Talk to everyone you can so that when it comes time to finish your internship, you leave with a bigger network!

• Differentiation. Things are tough out there, there aren’t nearly as many opportunities as there were a few years ago, so you need to STAND OUT. Internships can help you do just that. Many employers will ask whether or not your internship was paid or unpaid; taking an unpaid internship stands out! It shows you are dedicated and want to succeed.

Internships are building blocks or stepping stones, helping you move along. Whether they are paid or unpaid, the benefits are invaluable. Remember, there are a lot of people out there who would take the position if offered, so take advantage of the opportunity and make the most of it! It will go along way down the road!