Unpaid Internships Are More Expensive and Competitive
August 31, 2010
College students are vying for slots as unpaid interns, and many are shelling out thousands of dollars to placement agencies to ensure their internship opportunities.
The Washington Post reports that in DC--where an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 interns work every year-- agencies place about 2,500 interns, and the number is growing every year. Groups such as the Washington Internship Institute, the Fund for American Studies, and the Washington Center charge $7,000 to $9,000 for internship placement. The programs also cover housing, night classes, tours of Washington and college credit.
Advocates of such programs say the opportunities are worth the cost. The Post points out that the price of internship placement programs is sometimes less than college tuition. Moreover, students receiving credit for internships can usually pay using student loans, Pell grants or other financial aid.
"We definitely just viewed it as an investment in my future," said Emily Goyert, 21, who landed an internship through the Fund for American Studies and was interviewed by the Post. "There are only so many internships, and everyone wants one."
Even those who do not use internship placement programs are willing to dish out hundreds or thousands of dollars to cover living expenses and college credit for internships, USA today
reported last month. "Despite the financial burden," said USA Today, "the pipeline is crowded with young people trying to get a foot in the door, especially in a tight economy."And college students are not just competing with each other for these coveted spots. CNN reports that according a new survey by CareerBuilder.com, 23 percent of employers are now seeing experienced workers applying for internships. Some of these workers have more than a decade's experience or who are at least 50 years old.
"This economic downturn has really redefined what an internship is," said Mike Erwin, senior career adviser for the Web site, who was quoted by CNN. He noted that mature workers "need to make sure that they're filling in the gaps while being unemployed, so they're going ahead and taking these internships whether they're paid or unpaid so they can get more experience, and hopefully land a full-time job."
Erwin said that internships often pave the way to a full-time job. Just over half of the 2500 companies surveyed said they were likely to hire interns as permanent employees.
"So college students, entry level, mature and experienced workers are all vying for this extended job interview to hopefully get them a full-time job," Erwin told CNN.
Compiled by Yaffa Klugerman
Sources:
"Internships Attract More Experienced and Older Applicants," CNN, August 16, 2010, Matt Cherry
"More Would-Be Interns Paying Thousands to Land a Coveted Spot," The Washington Post, August 30, 2010, Jenna Johnson
"Unpaid Internships Can Cost--Or Pay Off For--College Students," USA Today, July 26, 2010, Stephanie Steinberg
