professional intern? no, thanks.
Posted by: annemstandley on: August 5, 2010
I’m trying to hold on to my positivity gleaned from Tuesday’s post, but I’m not succeeding.
I’m a planner, and I typically plan for situations that may or may not occur. Thus why enjoying my internship with What’s Up, I still have kept up the job search. Granted, not as vigourusly as pre-graduation, but putting my information out there none-the-less.
It’s hard finding positions that I feel I am qualified for. Start reading a job description that fits the type of work I’d like to do and my skills set until they list, “Must have at least seven years experience.” The range changes from company to company, and I admit applying for jobs that list 3-5 years because I think my internships and education give me the ability to quickly adapt to whatever a 3-5er could do.
The worst part is when I find a job that doesn’t list a minimum of years of experiences and apply, ever hopeful for a positive reception. I’m pleased to say that I have gotten a few responses but what is beginning to get under my skin is that the company thanks me for applying, and explains that I don’t have quite enough experience. Would I be willing to work as an intern?
Thanks, but no. Year to date, I have four internships listed on my resume. One of which was unpaid and during my sophomore year in college. Two of my internships asked be back during Christmas break to pick up projects that hadn’t been touched since I left. My mentors and friends try to smooth my attitude by saying, “You have to pay your dues somewhere.” My question is: How much is enough? Professional intern was never, and will never be, a career goal for me. Do I need to intern for 10 separate companies before one finally considers me experienced enough for hire?
What worries me is that my professors always suggested at least one internship before graduation, I had three and still can’t get past the Internship Wall. What about my fellow graduates who only hand one… or worse yet, none?
I also can’t help but wonder if these companies are offering internships when I applied for the full-time because I qualify, but they think I’m young enough that they can get away with paying me internship hourly rate or work for free.
I have news for companies who think it’s okay to take advantage of people who are willing to take internships. They can’t. I know I have the skills. I know I can perform to whatever standards they set for me and I deserve to be paid for the work that I do. And you do, too.
Thank you for the time to rant. Also, I believe internships are valuable and that everyone should have at least one in their life, just not a career out of it.
2 Responses to "professional intern? no, thanks."
August 7, 2010 at 4:41 pm
AHHH! Amen sister! I feel the same way. I just couldn’t do it. (Though I don’t have four internships.) If you’re a grad- you deserve BENEFITS and a SALARY for what you do.
August 5, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I have never taken an unpaid internship. I certainly wouldn’t think of doing it after graduating college with a degree in my field. But I think with the job market the way it is (over-saturated) employers think they can take advantage of recent graduates, or at least “try before you buy” so to speak.
I think you should continue to apply for any positions you think you’re well-suited, regardless of whether you have the technical number of years experience. But I also think you should get out two or three nights a week to networking functions in Atlanta, like Meetups, tweetups, social media club, etc. You can meet a lot of great people there — if they aren’t hiring directly they know people who are.
It really is “who” you know, more than “what” you know. The last designer we hired was someone I met at an Atlanta Web Design Group meeting and had built a relationship with over the past few months. It just gives you a little edge, which is something you really need in a job market like this.