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It seems like most internships are not so much a "free trial" for the internee, but an extended, interactive interview and test of skills, personality, and atti
by myoung8 19y ago
It seems like most internships are not so much a "free trial" for the internee, but an extended, interactive interview and test of skills, personality, and attitude. They exist so that firms don't get stuck with inept workers.
There are also significant costs associated with interns (e.g. training, relocation) which are depreciated if the intern gets hired. Having an intern program like he describes would definitely see an increase in those costs, which makes it a disincentive for firms to have such a program.
That said, I'd love to have the opportunity to intern anywhere at any stage in my life.
- MisterMerkin 19y agoAnd the intern working for peanuts if anything is a better deal for him/her? I'd say the risks incurred by both sides are equal and that is to say, they are very little.
- Tichy 19y agoI thought internships are just cheap labor for the companies. At least in Europe some people do nothing but internships for years, because companies won't hire anybody for real.
- davidw 19y agoYeah, at the last place I worked in Italy, my boss brought in a guy who was nice, and a hard worker, but not paid a dime. Stupid boss didn't even buy him lunch on his last day (I did out of a sense of decency). Eventually he hired him on as a 'temporary worker', which is how small firms in Italy get around the rigid labor laws. Basically, it's just another example of how the rigid labor laws take from some and give to others.
- sharpshoot 19y agoTichy, you mean in contintental Europe - Germany, France etc. The UK is a bit more backwards & terminal about this.