Have you ever interned at an organization? Was the experience a road to enlightenment or did it make no difference at all? That’s the whole idea! Many confuse internships with a useful opportunity to get a glimpse of the corporate world and observe how it functions. However, the reality is far from this belief!
Internships can be beneficial for a student who wishes to plunge into the corporate world right after completing their studies. But it is important first to assess what kind of internships are beneficial.
There are two kinds of internships offered in the market – Paid and Unpaid. The former helps you understand your value in the industry as a fresher; the latter could be really disappointing. Here are some reasons why unpaid internships are not worth the hype:
#1. In The Name Of Experience, Nuts Are Offered
Since you are an unpaid intern, the chances of being treated as nuts in the organization are on a higher side. Since there is no certainty to your role as an intern in the organization, not much meaningful work is assigned to you. Thus, if you have joined the team for experience, that’s the last thing on the mind of the employer.
#2. Gear Up For A Lower Salary
A survey conducted by The National Association of Colleges and Employers revealed that those who interned in a paid structure ended up getting more salary as compared to the ones who volunteered for an unpaid internship. The findings of the survey concluded that students with paid internship reportedly earned a median salary of $51,930 as compared to the median salary of $ 35,721 and $37,087 earned by those who interned for free and those who did not intern respectively.
#3. No Guarantee For Employment
In spite of working for free, the scope of getting hired is slim. The same survey revealed data that suggested that out of those who secured a paid job, 63% of them were those who sought paid internships before graduation, followed by 37% of those who did unpaid internships and lastly 35% had no internship at all. This implies that no internship and unpaid internship are treated similarly when it comes to employment.
#4. Bid Adieu To Personal Life
If you think that an unpaid internship is not equal to a full-time job, you are highly mistaken! It is no less than a full-fledged job and requires your utmost attention, leaving hardly any time for your personal life. The employers will make you work like any another ordinary employee.
#5. No Time To Build Connections
Most people intern to build connections and references that can help them in seeking a good job after studies. However, in the event of unpaid internships, the chances of building connections are quite low. Since the kind of work that is expected from you is nothing less than an assistant, you are only limited to the employer and not the other clients and employees of the organization.
#6. Not Treated As An Employee
When it comes to work, the employers will not hesitate in treating you like any other employee of the organization, but when it comes to rights and benefits, you will not stand a chance. Since you are not paid for the services you deliver, you are officially not on their payroll. Thus, you will be deprived of the basic rights that every employee of the organization is entitled to.
#7. Time Is A Barrier
If you think that time will be no hindrance since you are an unpaid intern, beware! Irrespective of whether they pay you or not, time will be a major issue. You will be expected to report on time and complete a proper shift even if you have no work. They will not compress your timings for anything.
Want to add more to the list? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your opinions and views by commenting on the box below!
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(Featured Image Courtesy: HypeBot)
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