[hinckley buzzard]

My first job was "a crappy unpaid internship" job. That was back in 1973. The question for me then was, Do you want to work in your field or do you want to do something else? Naturally, experience in my field was essential to continuing a new career.

[2ndDivisionVet]

There are some jobs out there, but it ain’t 2004, that’s for sure:

http://www.Indeed.com

http://www.Careerbuilder.com

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/sls/2988942248.html

http://www.Jobvertise.com

[JRandomFreeper]

Whiners. They should do a weekend of slave labor as a culinary student intern. I did learn skills and the ins and outs of kitchens, and sometimes I got comped meals, but it was a LOT of hard work for no pay.

The downside of interns for businesses is semi or unskilled labor without much motivation, unless they are internally motivated to learn.

I wouldn't have an unpaid intern. I want them to at least get a pittance for their efforts, so they can strive to improve.

/johnny

[Mr. Jeeves]

But Ms. Reyes soon soured on the experience. She often worked 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., five days a week. “They had me running out to buy them lunch,” she said. “They had me cleaning out the closets, emptying out the past season’s items.”

Ummm...that's the fashion business, even if they do pay you. She would be better off getting a job in a retail store and learning how the business works - especially how to sell. The money in fashion is made by sellers, not by little girls with dreams of becoming famous designers. There are thousands of those graduating every year.

[Vigilanteman]

Everywhere I've ever worked at least gave something to the intern. We bought them lunch, paid them a mileage allowance or something of sort.

It is not unreasonable for a prospective intern to ask for a 1-2 page written agreement of expectations or even to submit such a proposal.

A scrupulous employer would welcome such initiative and/or assign a regular staff member to ensure the intern had a decent experience. I've been that staff member on occasion (and even volunteered) with the understanding that time I spent to give the intern meaningful job experience would be paid back by being able to use the intern for the less glamorous routine work which comes with every job.

[Mygirlsmom]

Cry me a river.....in 2008 after several years of un/underemployment, I went back to night school. (This was before they started extending unemployment benefits...I worked odd jobs/sold stuff on ebay, whatever I could do to bring in cash.)

School cost a pretty penny - at 50, I will be paying back my loans till I die - PLUS I have a mortgage and three kids to put through college.

Because I had no practical experience in my new field I took an UNPAID internship. Worked hard, learned a ton, which helped me land my first job in my new field.

To have the "luxury" of just a student loan to repay and the ability to go anywhere in the country for work doesn't sound so bad to me.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If companies abuse this they will get the naming and shaming they deserve. But I agree, the option ought to be available. Having something extra to fill a resume with can help for the future.

[onedoug]

I’m very fortunate to be in the best and most satisfying job of my life coaching high school baseball. The pay is less than peanuts, but I’m less than three months away from the social security I paid into my whole working career. ‘Sure hope it lasts.

[MediaMole]

One issue with internships is that they can be designed to discourage people from going into the field for their own good. I am running an internship starting next week and my goal is to show my intern that she would be better going into almost any other field.

I’ve been in my field for 15 years and I know there is no future in it, despite the supposed glamour. Fun and supposed glamour doesn’t put food on the table.

[MediaMole]

One issue with internships is that they can be designed to discourage people from going into the field for their own good. I am running an internship starting next week and my goal is to show my intern that she would be better going into almost any other field.

I’ve been in my field for 15 years and I know there is no future in it, despite the supposed glamour. Fun and supposed glamour doesn’t put food on the table.

[JimRed]

My son, as an architectural student, had an internship the summer of his freshman year. The firm was impressed enough with him to hire him part time, then full time during subsequent summers. When he graduated he walked into a job. It took him an extra year and a half to get his masters, due to full time work. Then he was hired away by another firm and is doing quite well.

Was the unpaid internship worth it? You bet!