4 ms·

Is it just me or are unpaid internships a way to prey on the not-so-savvy young person, especially those indoctrinated at universities to find any internship co

by bryanh 17y ago

Is it just me or are unpaid internships a way to prey on the not-so-savvy young person, especially those indoctrinated at universities to find any internship come hell or high water? I dunno, it just seems like a scam to me.

kingkilr 17y ago
Dunno, I did one this past summer (concurrently with a GSOC project) and I found it to be a good experience, and a good way to get some real world experience on my resume to pad a ton of open source stuff. That being said there's no way I'd take unpaid work anymore.
- samdk 17y ago
  I don't have a problem unpaid summer or other short-term internships, although I can't afford to take them. (I'm a junior in college right now.) Asking someone to work from 9-5 with no pay for 6 months is completely ridiculous though.
fnid2 17y ago
Maybe not a scam, but it really limits your options for talent to those who can support themselves for 6 months. Maybe they are looking for some potential investors kids or something. Not many individuals still working on internships could afford 6 months on their own.
ambiate 17y ago
I currently cannot complete my degree. Practicuum - Internship - n/a. I put in 22~ hours/semester for a year in 8 week courses at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. While I was finishing the program, the partnership doing internships (Northrop Grumman) had a breakup with the college and left my 6 man class without a place to call home for the final part of the course. Now, we have a wasted year of work, no certificate, and no law suit (they relisted the course load this year in their catalog and really tempted me (it clearly states they still have a partnership)). 0 of the credits transfer to my university. So, an e-internship sounds like it would be the final piece for me to complete that certificate. I have given up on it for the most part though and just regard that year of work as my first taste of the business world. Some of us are desperate! Especially with some of the horrid Dallas internship offers... (ruby internship offer @ 70+ hours a week unpaid)
- techiferous 17y ago
  Sorry to hear about your bad luck. :( "ruby internship offer @ 70+ hours a week unpaid" Wow. Just wow. Why would anyone choose to program Ruby for 70+ hours a week unpaid when they could launch their own Ruby web app instead? Either way you get business experience but if you launch your own web app at least you have a chance at revenue.

by bryanh 17y ago

kingkilr 17y ago

Dunno, I did one this past summer (concurrently with a GSOC project) and I found it to be a good experience, and a good way to get some real world experience on my resume to pad a ton of open source stuff. That being said there's no way I'd take unpaid work anymore.

samdk 17y ago
I don't have a problem unpaid summer or other short-term internships, although I can't afford to take them. (I'm a junior in college right now.) Asking someone to work from 9-5 with no pay for 6 months is completely ridiculous though.

fnid2 17y ago

Maybe not a scam, but it really limits your options for talent to those who can support themselves for 6 months. Maybe they are looking for some potential investors kids or something. Not many individuals still working on internships could afford 6 months on their own.

ambiate 17y ago

I currently cannot complete my degree. Practicuum - Internship - n/a. I put in 22~ hours/semester for a year in 8 week courses at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. While I was finishing the program, the partnership doing internships (Northrop Grumman) had a breakup with the college and left my 6 man class without a place to call home for the final part of the course. Now, we have a wasted year of work, no certificate, and no law suit (they relisted the course load this year in their catalog and really tempted me (it clearly states they still have a partnership)). 0 of the credits transfer to my university. So, an e-internship sounds like it would be the final piece for me to complete that certificate. I have given up on it for the most part though and just regard that year of work as my first taste of the business world. Some of us are desperate! Especially with some of the horrid Dallas internship offers... (ruby internship offer @ 70+ hours a week unpaid)

techiferous 17y ago
Sorry to hear about your bad luck. :( "ruby internship offer @ 70+ hours a week unpaid" Wow. Just wow. Why would anyone choose to program Ruby for 70+ hours a week unpaid when they could launch their own Ruby web app instead? Either way you get business experience but if you launch your own web app at least you have a chance at revenue.