My Thoughts on Unpaid Internships

There has certainly been a lot of coverage recently regarding the law banning unpaid internships. While I agree that employers who abuse interns with 40+ hour weeks is absolutely insane, I do think some unpaid internships still provide educational, real-life experiences. In addition, many nonprofits and small businesses that have educational internship programs may have to kill their long-standing internship programs due to this government crack-down. Marc Hausman’s blog post pretty much sums up my thoughts on this issue. Please take a read.

In the midst of all the coverage regarding this issue, I have created the following list of valuable skills and qualities that have learned while being on this wonderful, unpaid internship.

• Opportunity to engage with different personalities: The workplace will certainly have all sorts of personalities and internships are a great way to get a sneak peak of them.

• Improving my writing: I have been given writing assignments that range in versatility from creative content to strategic public relations. Basically, each assignment has encouraged me to think and exercise my public relations writing skills, which I will enviably need in the professional world.

• Improving my strategic thinking skills: Interning at Come Recommended has given me vast opportunities to encourage strategic thinking. Heather encourages brainstorming sessions, team meetings and both individual and team projects, which all promote me to think on my feet!

• Exercising creativity: One thing I love about my internship here are the individual and team projects. Heather gives us a lot of independence and room for creative thinking, which is wonderful practice for what employers will expect of me.

• Practicing teamwork: At Come Recommended, I am currently working on a leadership project with my teammate Tyrone Gayle. Through Skype meetings, teleconferences, and e-mail correspondences, both Tyrone and I are exercising teamwork through a virtual internship. Being able to work in a team is a quality every employer seeks in their candidates. I’m glad this internship promotes strengthening ties with team members.

Overall, this is the second semester that I have been interning with Heather. This is not a paid internship and maybe some people will look down upon that. However, I have much respect for the quality of work that is assigned to me, and I take my internship very seriously. I’m sticking around a second semester because this internship provides me with value and not mundane tasks like fetching coffee. I am a passionate believer of working hard and reaping the benefits of that, and I am confident that along with my ambition and hard work, this extraordinary internship program will open many doors for me in the future.