Comments on: Are companies illegally taking advantage of unpaid interns? http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180 The musings of a young public relations professional Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:38:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Busy Life of an Undergrad: Tips for Getting Ahead « Navigating Your Career In Public Relations http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-227 Busy Life of an Undergrad: Tips for Getting Ahead « Navigating Your Career In Public Relations Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:03:21 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-227 [...] as much as possible: One internship experience is great, but 10 internship experiences are even better. I’m NOT suggesting you intern [...] [...] as much as possible: One internship experience is great, but 10 internship experiences are even better. I’m NOT suggesting you intern [...]

]]> By: InternCircle http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-219 InternCircle Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:38:55 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-219 This posting covers many aspects of internships so thank you. You should also check out www.interncircle.com which seems to offer a lot of useful advice as well for new interns. This posting covers many aspects of internships so thank you. You should also check out http://www.interncircle.com which seems to offer a lot of useful advice as well for new interns.

]]> By: Why Controversial Blogging Is Scary « MyOnlineCareerSpace.com http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-200 Why Controversial Blogging Is Scary « MyOnlineCareerSpace.com Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:59:56 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-200 [...] I asked for people’s opinions on unpaid internships after discovering that some are considered illegal. On my last blog, I wrote about whether or not [...] [...] I asked for people’s opinions on unpaid internships after discovering that some are considered illegal. On my last blog, I wrote about whether or not [...]

]]> By: Meg Watson http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-140 Meg Watson Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:52:18 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-140 As a college senior majoring in public relations, this issue is extremely relevant to me. Over the past two years I've completed two unpaid internships, and I plan to pursue one more internship before graduation--one that will likely be unpaid. As for the legality of interns, most companies are required to give the interns something in return for their work. However, that "something" is often class credit. As one comment noted, the interns generally have to pay tuiton to recieve that credit. I evaded paying to work full-time for two months this summer by refusing class credit for my internship. I did not receive compensation, but my internship was legal because I had the option to receive class credit for it. While lack of compensation certainly poses financial challenges, I believe that unpaid internships are entirely worthwhile. The experience I received and the portfolio pieces I gained in my internships will pay off in the future, and are worth more to me than the minimum wage I might have earned working somewhere else. As a college senior majoring in public relations, this issue is extremely relevant to me. Over the past two years I’ve completed two unpaid internships, and I plan to pursue one more internship before graduation–one that will likely be unpaid. As for the legality of interns, most companies are required to give the interns something in return for their work. However, that “something” is often class credit. As one comment noted, the interns generally have to pay tuiton to recieve that credit. I evaded paying to work full-time for two months this summer by refusing class credit for my internship. I did not receive compensation, but my internship was legal because I had the option to receive class credit for it. While lack of compensation certainly poses financial challenges, I believe that unpaid internships are entirely worthwhile. The experience I received and the portfolio pieces I gained in my internships will pay off in the future, and are worth more to me than the minimum wage I might have earned working somewhere else.

]]> By: Deandra D. http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-133 Deandra D. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:57:22 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-133 This is a very interesting debate and I'm totally on the fence about where I stand. I have had several unpaid internships, some for credit and some just because I wanted the experience. I'll admit that I was a little more open to the unpaid internship while in school, but after graduation, it became less of an option for me, mostly because I had to support myself somehow. In a perfect world, we'd all be paid for the work we've conributed...and I'm sure companies would love to pay everyone, but it's just not always possible. Many times, companies will offer unpaid internships to see if candidates are really passionate about what it is they want to do...accepting one, in my opinion, says a lot about character. In my position now, I do try to persuade the powers that be to offer some sort of compensation, especially in these tough economic times where students aren't solely looking for a learning experience, they are also trying to couple that with earning some sort of income to support themselves. Still a little on the fence about it, clearly. Good post! This is a very interesting debate and I’m totally on the fence about where I stand. I have had several unpaid internships, some for credit and some just because I wanted the experience. I’ll admit that I was a little more open to the unpaid internship while in school, but after graduation, it became less of an option for me, mostly because I had to support myself somehow.

In a perfect world, we’d all be paid for the work we’ve conributed…and I’m sure companies would love to pay everyone, but it’s just not always possible. Many times, companies will offer unpaid internships to see if candidates are really passionate about what it is they want to do…accepting one, in my opinion, says a lot about character.

In my position now, I do try to persuade the powers that be to offer some sort of compensation, especially in these tough economic times where students aren’t solely looking for a learning experience, they are also trying to couple that with earning some sort of income to support themselves.

Still a little on the fence about it, clearly.

Good post!

]]> By: Rachel Esterline http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-131 Rachel Esterline Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:22:30 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-131 And I did not say that all of them were illegal. I'm just sharing information I learned about and soliciting a conversation among other public relations interns and professionals. Thank you. And I did not say that all of them were illegal. I’m just sharing information I learned about and soliciting a conversation among other public relations interns and professionals. Thank you.

]]> By: Ask a Manager http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-130 Ask a Manager Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:11:55 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-130 I hire for unpaid internships all the time, and it's NOT illegal, because there's an exception in the law for most nonprofits. It would be good to give out correct information here. I hire for unpaid internships all the time, and it’s NOT illegal, because there’s an exception in the law for most nonprofits. It would be good to give out correct information here.

]]> By: Why Controversial Blogging is Scary « Navigating Your Career In Public Relations http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-127 Why Controversial Blogging is Scary « Navigating Your Career In Public Relations Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:19 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-127 [...] Editorial Calendar « Are companies illegally taking advantage of unpaid interns? [...] [...] Editorial Calendar « Are companies illegally taking advantage of unpaid interns? [...]

]]> By: Janet http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-125 Janet Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:22:45 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-125 Great post! If I had my own agency, and I would do a scholarship program for my interns (kind of how you had your summer internship I think). I would promote it as a scholarship contest for a PR student, and then once the lucky/deserving intern would be chosen, I'd do regular PR stuff to try and get some publicity surrounding it. Not only would that be great for the student (how wonderful would it be for a future employer to Google the name of the student and have a news article come up about the student winning a scholarship??) but it would also make my company look amazing by supporting the education of a student. Luckily, I had parents to help support me through unpaid internships, but I still had to temp and waitress through 5 unpaid internships. Life, college and rent is expensive!! For the kids whose parents aren't in a financial position to help, I honestly don't know how they do it!!! It's not very fair. :-( At the same time, I understand how companies - in the midst of layoffs and paycuts - literally can't afford to pay interns. Tough situation for sure! Great topic, Rachel!! Great post! If I had my own agency, and I would do a scholarship program for my interns (kind of how you had your summer internship I think). I would promote it as a scholarship contest for a PR student, and then once the lucky/deserving intern would be chosen, I’d do regular PR stuff to try and get some publicity surrounding it. Not only would that be great for the student (how wonderful would it be for a future employer to Google the name of the student and have a news article come up about the student winning a scholarship??) but it would also make my company look amazing by supporting the education of a student. Luckily, I had parents to help support me through unpaid internships, but I still had to temp and waitress through 5 unpaid internships. Life, college and rent is expensive!! For the kids whose parents aren’t in a financial position to help, I honestly don’t know how they do it!!! It’s not very fair. :-( At the same time, I understand how companies – in the midst of layoffs and paycuts – literally can’t afford to pay interns. Tough situation for sure! Great topic, Rachel!!

]]> By: Rachel Esterline http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180&cpage=1#comment-124 Rachel Esterline Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:40:20 +0000 http://www.rachelmesterline.com/blog/?p=180#comment-124 Grace - Thanks for the comment. I agree with you...sometimes you can't turn down those unpaid internships because you need the experience! Thanks for the comment! Grace – Thanks for the comment. I agree with you…sometimes you can’t turn down those unpaid internships because you need the experience! Thanks for the comment!

]]>