By Kelsey McWilliams,
junior journalism major at CU-Boulder
Although unpaid internships may not seem like the ideal
option, there is a lot of value to be found in the experience. Our last post,
“Have You Applied For a Summer Internship?” talked about the importance in
considering internship opportunities whether they are paid or unpaid. Read on
for more reasons to consider unpaid internships this summer!
First of all, unpaid internships provide invaluable
experience. No matter how much money you could make babysitting or
lifeguarding, you can’t put a price on the experience you gain through an
internship in your desired field. College is the perfect time to experiment
with different companies and find out what career you’d like to pursue after
college.
When it comes to your future, an unpaid internship
experience can be crucial in the job search. A friend of my recently had a job
interview where the employer asked her about her previous internship
experience. My friend had just completed an internship at a non-profit
organization in Denver, and the interview was thrilled to hear that the
position had been unpaid. As the interviewer said, ‘unpaid internships show
potential employers that you are dedicated to hard work, not just making money.’
Unpaid internships are also great opportunities to network.
The people that you meet during your internship will be potential resources for
the rest of your professional career. Not to mention, if a paid position opens
up at the company you work for, you’re likely to be one of the first people
they consider.
The next time you’re thinking of turning down an internship
because it’s unpaid, keep these points in mind. One unpaid internship could
lead to the full-time job of your dreams!
No comments:
Post a Comment