economy

Internship Series part 1: Why you shouldn’t take an internship

by Marian Schembari on December 30, 2009

This is the first post in a three-part series where I break down the problems with internships, tell two stories of people who let the system abuse them, and give you the top five tips for getting the most out of your pre-career without doing it for free.

Remember when people used to pay you to work? Neither do I. It’s this new generation (college to 25ish) that makes it acceptable – desirable – to work long hours, do menial work and like it… FOR FREE. Does no one else see something wrong with this?

The problem with internships:

Apparently, you can only gain meaningful work experience if you’re somebody’s bitch.
Just because someone is “willing”, doesn’t mean it’s not slave labor.
You need to be able to afford it. Meaning that if you don’t come from a good family with a good education and work experience, you have no way to support yourself while you gain said meaningful work experience. Vicious circle and all. An article in The Atlantic says, “Interns are like illegal immigrants. But they’re worse, because instead of doing the jobs nobody wants to do, college interns do the jobs that everybody their age wants to do, but that only the wealthier can afford.”
Meaning slave labor is highly competitive.
Oftentimes, YOU pay THEM to be their bitch – in the form of transportation fees, lunch, work attire, etc etc.

I’ve had three internships since high school, all of which I’ve liked and gained some serious experience. One in particular was at The Royal Academy of Arts in London. London college students don’t often have internships as slave labor apparently isn’t as popular on that side of the pond. Meaning my bosses were actually surprised/ecstatic and often confused that we would do their work for free. Meaning they were nice to us, gave us moderately exciting work, let us sit in on meetings and brainstorm with them. They even offered me a paying job at the end of it and ended up being my most positive work experience. That being said, it was in London. I’m currently in New York.

However, internships are becoming more popular since I left and the UK is now investigating these internships because because, unlike some countries, they apparently care. The Guardian reported, “Under the National Minimum Wage Act, interns who work rather than observe should be paid, but employers have taken advantage of a legally grey area, and the willingness of young people, to pay just expenses, or nothing at all.”

Fast forward a few years to just after my college graduation, when I was looking for work in publishing. A lot of people told me I should consider an internship since it was obviously pretty difficult to break into the big houses. That way I could “gain experience” and “make connections” while the companies hurt by the economy can get the job done without having to pay. Now, I’d like to think I’m pretty smart — I have a degree from a fancy school and a ton of work experience already, so why the hell should I give up the goods for free? This concept just flies in the face of our established wage regulations. Why have minimum wage at all if we all just work for free? How does that make any sense?

lemmings

Before you pee yourself, think about it. I know internships are what everyone does, and it is difficult to get a job without at least one under your belt. But by taking one you also prove you can only think inside the cube and have no imagination whatsoever. Instead, prove to employers that you don’t need any hand holding. Prove you can network and gain experience without the big boss at a big company. Taking the initiative is that much more impressive than taking an internship with all the other lemmings.

Want to go into finance? Email someone at the Financial Women’s Association and ask if you can come to a meeting. People like to help out those of us just getting started, so mention that you’re looking for work and want to learn more about the business. I guarantee if you sit down and talk one-on-one with someone you will gain just as much experience (if not more) as going into work and watching other people’s meetings from a distance. Want to keep up with the industry of your choice? That’s what the internet is for.

Seriously, you are so much smarter and creative and BOLD if you take work into your own hands. Okay, so the economy blows. What are you going to DO about it?!

Tomorrow: The “cool factor” and one intern’s drama when she let the bosses have it…

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These “tough times” and “changing world” are nothing new

by Marian Schembari on December 28, 2009

I recently spent a week in Florida with my grandparents, whose political views are the exact opposite of my own. Which is cool… to each his own. However, I was subject to a great deal of Glenn Beck and the stereotypical grandparental view of “when I was your age” and “in the olden days”. Now, my grandparents rock my socks as they are both are fascinating people with fascinating stories, but I wonder: do they realize they are becoming the stereotype?

Every generation hates the one that follows, that’s just how it is, but it doesn’t mean they’re right. I’m sure I’ll hate my children’s music, choice of clothing, whatever, but I hope I will understand that’s me being old rather than judging each generation for what is really just a natural shift in culture.

This is relevant because, as I say over and over and over again, I’m sick and tired of always hearing about the economy, how times are changing, etc etc. Times are always changing. Granted, technology is improving at an insane rate (watch this video from Microsoft), but I’m not concerned about the world imploding due to our growing use of digital crap. Example: I was rewatching Alias, one of the greatest shows of all time, when I realized that on more than one occasion in the first season, the characters talk about the horrible economy. I noticed a similar conversation in a book I read set in 19th century France. And again in a movie from the 1980s. I’m noticing that people are always complaining about the economy – I can’t remember ever hearing anyone say anything positive about the state of the world’s finances.

People don’t like change or growing old, so I guess we take it out on people and whine at increasing decibels. I just want to point out though that this is nothing new and I hope people my age will take this “advice” with a grain of salt and stop worrying when we should be out there kicking ass!

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No, really…

by Marian Schembari on November 3, 2009

Well then! Apparently I pissed some people off! Is it weird if my response to that is “awesome”?

Negativity, worrying, stress and doubt really piss me off. I don’t want to hear about how hard it is to get a job or how the media is dying. Are these things not true? Of course not. But I don’t like worrying, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t stress me out. The thing is, we are in a difficult time. The other thing is that the way things have always been done is not going to solve these problems.

If you think I’m callous, or in the words of one commenter, “self centered and glib”, I assure you I do my research. While I refuse to do the whole “today I went to the market”-personal-shit on my blog, I have been affected in my non-publishing life by said recession. Remember, 3 out of my 5 other family members work for The New York Times. Both parents are published authors. I work in publishing. I am, in fact, fully informed.

Maybe it’s my youth and/or nativity. Or my glibness. Or maybe my optimism. But I see people every day doing ridiculously amazing things and making it in the media world, despite the recession. Times are a-changing, and some people roll with it and succeed. Others roll over instead.

Example: Bookavore wrote a badass comment, with a lot of great points. In all technicality, since she is a bookseller, I accused her of whining. After doing my research and checking out WORD (her shop), she is NOT who I was referring to in my post. In fact, she is a bookseller who appears to be taking this stuff in stride. Check out the site, you’ll see what I mean.

The “whiners” I referred to are those who don’t have the imagination or creatively to turn a shitty situation into a good thing. A bookstore who can’t see passed the dropping price of books. Yeah, for those stores who are only open 9-5 and charge $25.00 for a new book, whine away. Sucks to be you. But for those who have events and make funny videos about the Kindle, and FIGHT BACK… Well, don’t whine. Because you’re awesome and I want to be your friend.

So I hope this clarifies my point. I like people who think outside the box, and in “this economy” (I said it… shudder) you are the people who are not only going to survive, but thrive.

WORD Brooklyn

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Books are cheaper now, get over it…

by Marian Schembari on November 1, 2009

The book price war is a good thing. And I’m almost as bored of people talking about this as I am about the economy killing publishing. My usual response to such boredom: “get over it”.

I’m sorry, but I’m a 22-year-old college grad with a completely useless degree (gender studies), living in Manhattan, with the worst public library system EVER. And I work with books. Remind me again why I should cry about Wal-Mart and Amazon (among others, apparently) duking it out so I can pay less for a good read?

For those of you living under a rock, essentially these two superstores keep lowering their book prices, and they tend to hover around $10 a pop for a recent bestseller. Publishers, bookstores, agents and authors are having a grand ole time whining about the loss of their livelihood and the death of the book. Now, as mentioned in an earlier post, this brand of negativity makes me sleepy.

I understand publishing is a business. And I’m the first person to jump up and defend that it’s the most important one. I also know that somewhere an angel loses it’s wings every time some indy bookstore closes for good. But come on people! Remember what publishing is about?!?! Books! Learning! End. Of. Story.

If Wal-Mart wants to hemorrhage money to prove they’re the biggest and the baddest, than that’s their problem. And if more people are reading and buying books in the process? That’s wonderful! I, for one, plan on taking serious advantage of this lucky turn of events while I can.

Example: I just recently moved from Greenwich, CT to Manhattan. The Greenwich Library is one of my favorite places on Earth. Not only is it a great space, but I got Dan Brown’s new book 2 days after it came out. They are well stocked, easy, accessible, and beautiful. New York, on the other hand, is gross, dingy, horribly stocked and slow. Sorry, guys. More on that later I guess. Anyway, there are a ton of books I want to read, but the library doesn’t stock them or I’m the 1,000th hold of 1,000 holds (this doesn’t change ever, mind you). But I can’t NOT read. But I can’t afford to buy books all the time either, especially new ones. This point is exaggerated even more so when they suck. In comes Amazon to save the day! Say what you will, but if I could have bought Dan’s novel for $10 the day it came out, I would have been all over that.

I love independent bookstores, and if I’m in a rush, or can’t find a book for less money, I will support them all the way. But I’m cheap and literary. And apparently, these two cannot coexist.

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