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Unpaid internships are a ripoff

6 points| astrec | 17 years ago |thisisgoingtobebig.com | reply

2 comments

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[+] asif|17 years ago|reply
Disagree. There are certain industry where the argument holds true; investment banking for example (you're likely a sucker if the only way an investment bank will give you an internship is if you work for free). But there must be some industries out there where the market rate for an intern is literally "valuable experience". You could ask a bunch of people that worked in jobs like this, after the fact, if they were happy with what they got out of the experience (i.e., did it help you get a real job later on), and I wouldn't be surprised if the yes/no ratio was similar to those with paid internships. My supporting evidence for this assertion is that the practice is widely taking place today. Certainly it would have been exposed as a fraud and a ripoff by now, if that were the case.
[+] paul9290|17 years ago|reply
I disagree!

The value is building your network and meeting the right people!.

Like in the Music Biz... i interned at labels in Nashville, which in turn opened the door for my full time gig at a label in NYC. Without my internships that would not have happened!