Let’s Rethink the Internship Problem

Today’s college students have an unlikely mascot. He’s not dressed in bright colors or an oversized jersey. He lacks the typical fursuit many universities favor for their school representation. He doesn’t even wear a hat. 

Instead, the most accurate representation for college students is award-winning comedian and singer Bo Burnham in a pair of fingerprint-smudged sunglasses.

Tucked within the film “Inside” is a 34-second peek into the lives of nearly 3.6 million students. The song “Unpaid Intern” is catchy at first listen, yet darkly accurate for those who pay attention to the lyrics. 

Burnham’s song isn’t far off the mark for many who were lucky enough to score an internship. It describes the menial tasks passed off on young adults who choose to further their career through the equivalent of an office job with a fraction of the benefits. 

Interns carry their title almost as meticulously as they carry coffee to their supervisors. The privilege of being chosen, of being wanted, in academia and the workplace is held on its own sort of silver platter, one stacked high with dark leather briefcases and important documents. 

Internships and job culture have long been looked at through wire-rimmed and rose-tinted glasses. In today’s generation of up-and-coming professionals, they have become a highly sought-after commodity. They linger on the forefront of students’ minds and proudly populate LinkedIn pages. However, for most, the reality of an internship is long and arduous. 

Though internships are in high demand as students rush to pad their resumes for grad school applications and job listings, offer rates are falling. This decline in opportunities forces students to rush to fill spots which provide long hours, little-to-no pay and a sometimes hostile work environment — all in the name of experience.

It seems with these new and intense internships, job-seekers are going to great lengths to prove worthiness for their new position. This clamor to be the top applicant isn’t unfounded. Internships are inherently useful for future applications and prove an excellent way to learn more about the workplace. 

For others who may be trying to get their first internship, it’s nearly impossible. Though the positions are often entry-level and require little to no experience, hiring managers tend to prioritize those familiar with the job. This selection process makes it challenging for students and adults new to their desired industry to have an in, effectively shutting them out. 

The hardships don’t end after an acceptance, though. Around 47% of internships are unpaid. Students are already pushing themselves through tuition, housing costs and overall price of living, but now must persevere through working the equivalent of a full-time job without pay. 

This time commitment proves many internships to be restrictive financially. In fact, many college students can’t afford to lose an entire summer of paid work, even if it’s waiting tables or babysitting. It narrows down the interns to wealthy and higher-class applicants who can afford the lack of paycheck.

When the applicant pool narrows to mostly students having consistent access to top education, activities and assistance, the remaining candidates fade into background noise. 

For others, it requires working multiple jobs, stretching themselves thin to accommodate new, shorter hours in a paid position. 

It seems there’s no end in sight to the rising competition for the coveted internship which can lead to a rosy future.

However, when more interns are able to advocate for payment in their respective roles, larger pushes can be made toward lowering the number of unpaid internships. 

Responsibility for protecting students from working punishing hours underpaid also falls on their university. At schools where having internships, labs or research is important, supporting students should be a priority.

Some colleges, like Hamilton College, offer stipends to students who are taking an unpaid position to further their career. This money can be used for housing, groceries or utilities during the internship, and works hand-in-hand with their financial aid. 

Programs like this would be beneficial for Loyola students, as some Loyola colleges require completion of an internship for graduation. Schools, especially private institutions, should implement programs that provide aid to students who lose work hours and paychecks to satisfy curriculum.

Though Loyola does offer some assistance with internship costs, their assistance is limited to specific schools. These stipends are few and far-between, and seem to primarily service communications and law students.

Though policies like Hamilton’s aren’t commonplace in many colleges, the practice of providing stipends to students makes the internship process accessible for more students and lessens some of the financial burden from low-paying positions.

This being said, internships aren’t all terrible. They’re a great way for students to test the waters of their desired career before committing to years of schooling and are one of the most effective ways to get practical, hands-on experience. 

Internships are especially crucial to students intending to apply to law school, medical school or other graduate programs. For many applications, the proficiency students earn from internships is required, and a certain number of experience hours must be met for consideration. 

This modern-day reliance on internships and practical know-how is exactly why the grueling hours, intensity of work and inaccessibility for people of all social classes are especially baffling. These opportunities are often what start a young person’s career and inspire them to continue on with their education. 

Sure, “Unpaid Intern” might be a catchy song, but the reality of the application process, payment and time commitment make worthwhile internships hard to come by and exclusionary.