Unfair Interships?

So I came across a great article about the fairness and alleged dishonesty of certain employers when it comes to low-paying or unpaid internships.  Just how legitimate and “valuable” are some of these?  Yes, it’s great to be able to work at a prestigious magazine or public relations company, but at what price?  Unpaid interns are struggling just to pay the bills; just this last year, 36% of students said their internships were unpaid.

The article points out that “glamour industries” such as television, film, and publishing are notorious for such internships. How is a self-providing student supposed to survive without an income?  Do they really provide that much valuable work experience?

I guess the answer to that question really depends on who you ask.  One person may find an unpaid internship the ideal way to establish contacts in their future field of work, another may not so much.

A popular alternative is mentorships: a radio internship (or other broadcasting type internship) that provides one-on-one training with a professional in your chosen field.  Despite the fact that you pay (much like traditional college), not only is it one-on-one training (basically career shadowing), you get to do it around your own schedule, which allows you to work if needed.

I suppose everyone is different, which makes everyone’s objectives and end-goals different.  Bottom line is you have to be diligent in searching out something that works for you; a particular internship or program may work for one person but not another.  Don’t get discouraged and don’t settle…keep searching until you find an internship (or mentorship) you are happy with!