photo via flickr user Stefan
It’s hard to believe it’s already the end of July and school will be starting soon. With the start of the new school year come the applications for fall internships.
I have mixed feelings about internships. On the one hand, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my internships. They gave me real world experience and the insight I needed to start my own business. Without the credibility they provided me, I wouldn’t have been able to land my first few clients. More importantly, through the roughness of the New York fashion scene, where I interned, I grew a thick skin and learned a sense of urgency.
On the other hand, I have seen a number of situations in which employers have taken advantage of their unpaid interns. There’s a super-fine line between doing an internship and being taken advantage of. And while it is the employer’s fault, to a degree, I also think interns should speak up, set lines and define boundaries.
Here are a few tips to avoid being taken advantage of during your internship.
Look for internships with actual programs
I have found companies that offer a scheduled internship program tend to be the most worthwhile. These programs show they value their interns and the structure and a schedule helps interns feel they are taken care of equal to that of employees.
One of my best internships was with Gap, Inc. Their program was very organized with a defined start and end date. There was a schedule of events we had to attend, and the effort put forth from the company made us feel like we were part of the team. We also had an HR contact we could talk to if we had any issues. Along with this they paid us hourly, which didn’t hurt. Everyone knows that while internships are worthwhile, working for free can be challenging.
Set your schedule from the beginning
One way to avoid being taken advantage of is to set your schedule from the beginning and try to stick with it. Of course, there may be days when you are required to work overtime, but if you’re straightforward about your availability then your employer has a clear set of guidelines for your service.
I found this the easiest when I was in school and had classes to work around. Setting this schedule from the beginning ensures both you and your employer will understand the time expectations. That being said, you need to make sure you show up and work when you say you will.
Ask what the day-to-day schedule looks like
One way to make sure your expectations are meant and you have time for your internship is to ask what the day-to-day will look like. It helps to understand what you’re really getting into. Hopefully they will offer up a realistic answer to when their days start, end and what the intern duties are. If you have a chance to talk to other interns that’s even better!
Don’t overstay your welcome
Yes, the prospect of a full time job offer is a huge bonus when it comes to being an intern, but sometimes those offers don’t happen. If you understand this from the beginning, you can set a definitive point when you will walk away. As your internship approaches the end its fine to bring up job prospects, but make sure you don’t find yourself in a situation where they keep promising jobs and nothing happens. It is important to keep your options open. Sometimes it looks worse on your resume to be an intern forever.
Great article! I tweeted this out to all my fellow interns.