Paying to Work

Congratulations to the recent class of 2009! No more late night snack runs to 7-eleven, all nighter study sessions, wild and crazy college parties or even 8am classes, welcome to the real world.

2009 college graduates are entering the working world at the worst time possible. With the economy in a recession, jobs are scarce and not only are they competing with other grads, but with employees who have had years and years of working experience.

It’s a dog eat dog world out there…..well, not literally.

What about an internship? Internships have become a vital and almost necessary experience on any entry level resume. They allow students to learn and practice their job skills in the working world preparing them for jobs and careers.

Because of the difficulty of finding jobs, some students and graduates have settled for unpaid internships, hoping to gain the experiences and networking connections they need to land a paying job.

But should you pay to work for an unpaid internship?

Companies such as University of Dreams and Fast Track Internships are programs that guarantee students a great internship, but at a not so great price. Some of the programs cost as much as $8,000, which includes a guaranteed internship placement, weeks of learning seminars, housing, and meal plans.

Advocates of the program say these places have a large network of contacts in the industry that people would need to land a great internship.

But what about those students who can’t afford to pay $8,000?

Critics of these programs argue that places such as University of Dreams is defeating the purpose of having students develop their job seeking skills and at times experience rejection; skills and experiences that are both vital for success in future job prospects.

How will a student know how to find a job if it has always been handed to them?

Others say it is only creating a larger gap between the “haves and have-nots,” giving the ones who are able to pay for an internship an unfair advantage while those who aren’t able to pay are probably just as qualified.

Internships give students the opportunity to take a bite into the working world and to get a small taste of what it will be like whether or not you have to search for them or pay for them.