Internships: Paid or Unpaid?

I remember when I was in school, and often an issue that fellow students would have when it came to internships was whether or not to seek a paid opportunity, versus an unpaid one. Personally, I know that I didn't even want to consider an opportunity unless it included some kind of wage. But I began to think differently when hearing the experience of a friend of mine, who also graduated from OSU a few years ago.

Stacia Allen has worked in telecommunications at a video studio in Columbus since her junior year of college. Her first internship was a nonpaid position at Wendys International.

"It seemed like everyone else in my field wanted internships to learn more, but they were insisting on paid internships," Allen recalls. "A friend told me that may not be the best way to go, and gave me names of other contacts who may help but unable to pay."

When Allen called Wendys International, they were very helpful. "They said 'Sure! We don't pay, but you can do as many hours as you need for the credit. In that aspect, it was really cool because since they knew I wasnt getting paid, so they didnt give me just grunt work. They didnt take advantage of the fact that I was an intern, and went out of their way to teach me. I began learning the very first day, and they took the time to help me."

Allen also says that those first mentors were also helpful in guiding her in class projects.

After some time at Wendys, another friend asked Allen to do "craft services," for a video shoot that was to last a week. Having no idea what crafte services were, she said yes anyway.

"I then found out that it was making sure that the food and refreshments were set up on the location shoot. It was a great way to start, and before I knew it, others were asking me to do craft services for them, and asking me for my business card. They even passed my name onto other people they knew. And I was only a junior in college!"

That led indirectly to her current professional position. An instructor at school suggested that she check it out. "I went in without a resume, only leaving my name and number with the owner. Eventually, he called me, and asked for a rundown of my experience."

"When I said that I did craft services, he was immediately impressed. How many college juniors know what craft services are? I got the job. And with no resume."

He later pointed out that he gets tons of resumes each day, but hasnt the time to sort through them. He needed someone right away, and I was the one at arms length.

Allen sees the importance of making valuable use of your time, no matter what year you are in school. "I waited tables for 3-1/2 years, and made some very good money, working with other college graduates."

"But they were still waiting tables," Allen continues. "It was good money, and they couldnt handle the pay cut of starting at the bottom in their field. As a result, they finish school, never to go anywhere else. These guys were accountants and stuff like that...and still serving tables."

"I realized that the longer I stayed there, the more I would fall behind. Finally, I said, 'I gotta get out of this, despite the money."

Allen's advice to students: "The best time to take a pay cut was while I was in school, and to start at the bottom right now, instead of waiting until graduation."

-- Keith F. Luscher is a consultant, speaker, and author of the book Don't Wait Until You Graduate! How to "Jump-Start" Your Career While Still in School. He invites--and responds to--your questions, comments and experiences. He can be reached via e-mail at keithluscher@aol.com.