Internship

Nearing the end of my studies, I have been looking into what the market has to offer.  It seems like competition is going to be tough.  The criteria set by many prospective employers are various and demanding.  However, I am up for the challenge.  Almost everybody wants 3 to 5 years of experience.  Although that might be a difficult hurdle to overcome, I am still confident that somebody would value my particular set of skills.  However, the next "requirement" is the one that totally takes the wind out of my sails, every time :

Please note that this position is an unpaid internship.

I discussed this issue with some of my (younger) classmates and even tutors.  The consensus was that it is simply expected in today's marketplace and a quick search on the net provided a range of articles highlighting the benefits of unpaid internship. However, this trend still does not sit well with me.

Why unpaid internship is not such a good idea

  You have accumulated a massive financial debt in acquiring the knowledge needed to perform a certain
job.  In my eyes taking on a position like this is short selling yourself, your potential and your degree.  Some argue that this time is valuable for you to learn how an office operate.  Guess what?  If you are hardworking and clever enough to earn a degree, you will be able to grasp that in no time.

  No employee at a fast food chain or an apprentice is expected to work for free, why should graduates?  These positions require you to attend meetings and operate in a professional environment.  Surely you would have to adhere to a certain dress code and use transport to get to and from work.  How is an unpaid worker suppose to afford it?

 

The fact is that in most cases it is NOT experience that is on offer, but exploitation.  Know your rights! 

 Unpaid internship is actually illegal in Australia.  

University of Adelaide professor of law Andrew Stewart is one of the authors of a report released by Fair Work on this issue.  He summarizes the issue as follows:

"It's clear from the Fair Work Act that if you are doing work experience as part of an authorised educational training course, then that's perfectly OK.  Outside that, if you've got a pretty firm agreement with your employer and it doesn't have to be in writing to come into work and to get something in return and that might be just experience or being able to add to your resume, your CV, that is capable at law of amounting to an employment contract, [you] therefore should be paid at least the minimum wage."