Are unpaid internships worth it?

The value of unpaid internships can vary greatly depending on the individual and the circumstances. Here are some perspectives:

  1. Experience and Skills: Unpaid internships can provide valuable work experience, help you build your professional network, develop skills, and receive feedback from professionals. They can also be a good indicator of whether you’ll like your future profession².
  2. Equity Concerns: Unpaid internships can deepen the existing social divide. A survey found that paid internships disproportionately go to white, male students with parents who have a college degree.
  3. Job Offers: The same survey revealed that unpaid interns get the same number of job offers as those without an internship. So, an unpaid internship is as good (or bad) for your career as not doing an internship at all.
  4. Alternatives: Micro-internships, which are short-term, paid projects for college students, are suggested as a more equitable solution to unpaid internships¹. They are available throughout the year and can help students explore opportunities beyond their college major and learn highly generalized transferable skills.
  5. Potential Drawbacks: In some cases, taking an unpaid internship can land you a lower starting salary when you finally do get paid.

while unpaid internships can offer valuable experience and skills, they also come with potential drawbacks. It’s important to consider your personal circumstances and the specific opportunities available to you when deciding if an unpaid internship is worth it.

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