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?

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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