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How to Safeguard Against Unfair, Unpaid Internships

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University Parent Media
3800 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80303
University Parent Media web site

Contact: Sarah Schupp, 866-721-1357

Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

HOW TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST UNFAIR, UNPAID INTERNSHIPS

Boulder, COLO.  (April 29, 2011) – For many college students, choosing between making money and gaining valuable experience has become all too common. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that 50 percent of recent college graduates have held internships and as many as half of those were unpaid.

University Parent Media suggests several ways for parents to guide their students’ decisions when facing an unpaid internship. First, consider the legal criteria, released by The United States Department of Labor, which clarifies exactly what constitutes a fair, unpaid internship at a for-profit company:

  1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
  2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
  3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
  4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
  5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
  6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

Second, encourage your student to consider the following tips to make sure she’s not being duped into an unfair internship:

Keep the Academic Advisor Involved

In order to receive college credit for an internship, your student will need to talk to her professors and/or an academic advisor. They will understand typical internship situations and will make sure this internship is a good fit.

Ask about Employment Opportunities

While an internship doesn’t secure a future job, it can be helpful to know how frequently the employer hires former interns. If the company is on a hiring freeze or rarely leads to full-time employment, your student will want to weigh that against the benefits of what experience she’ll gain and what doors of opportunity this might open for her.

Understand the Expectations

Before your student accepts an internship offer, make sure she knows what will be expected of her and what she can expect of the experience. What hours will she work? What duties will she perform? With whom will she work? What will she learn about the industry and profession?

Be Practical and Level-headed

Holding an internship is rarely like a golden ticket that will open doors and pave the way to a successful career. It’s one step in the process to building up experience and learning what your student wants in a job and a vocation. If taking an internship will put her into debt or keep her from other meaningful opportunities, it might not be worth it. This is a perfect chance for your student to practice defining priorities and making difficult decisions.

Insist on an Evaluation

Most internships include an evaluation on behalf of the intern and the supervisor at the end of the internship. Your student will gain insight from her evaluation that will improve her professionalism and prepare her for the next internship or job, and the supervisor will find ways to improve the process for future interns.

About University Parent Media: University Parent Media, based in Boulder, Colo., produces print and online guides for college parents in partnership with over 200 universities and colleges in 34 states. Visit www.universityparent.com. Follow on Twitter @4collegeparents and join Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/collegeparents.

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