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Interesting, I wouldn't have expected that in that type of position. Once you get your certification, you shouldn't need an internship... I could see a short probationary period (3-6 months) where you're paid less during training, but unpaid work? And for a year? That is insane.
I'm in a completely different field and I'm a contractor. I occasionally get offers for "a job where you'll get tons of experience that will make up for not being paid." ROFL I've been doing this for a decade and I've never taken a job for the experience, so I'm certainly not about to start now. Please. I have no trouble finding clients who pay the rates I'm looking for, though. It's not common enough for it to really affect me other than creating an annoyance.
I'm not sure what you can do to change it. If you can get in at minimum wage (as opposed to unpaid), you could take it, knock their socks off and make yourself extremely useful, then ask for a substantial raise at the six month mark. But that's betting on yourself for half a year... and that's if you can get a paid position to begin with.
Interesting, I wouldn't have expected that in that type of position. Once you get your certification, you shouldn't need an internship... I could see a short probationary period (3-6 months) where you're paid less during training, but unpaid work? And for a year? That is insane.
I'm in a completely different field and I'm a contractor. I occasionally get offers for "a job where you'll get tons of experience that will make up for not being paid." ROFL I've been doing this for a decade and I've never taken a job for the experience, so I'm certainly not about to start now. Please. I have no trouble finding clients who pay the rates I'm looking for, though. It's not common enough for it to really affect me other than creating an annoyance.
I'm not sure what you can do to change it. If you can get in at minimum wage (as opposed to unpaid), you could take it, knock their socks off and make yourself extremely useful, then ask for a substantial raise at the six month mark. But that's betting on yourself for half a year... and that's if you can get a paid position to begin with.
Most programs require a short internship, usually a month or so, before the certification test. I'm lucky to have a decent job already its just a little short on hours.
I hate that "paid in experience" crap. You cant eat experience or pay rent in it.
The vast majority of interns working at for-profit organizations must be paid at least the minimum wage and any applicable overtime. Technically, paid interns are temporary employees and treated virtually the same as regular employees with respect to labor law. But you may legally hire an unpaid intern if the following six criteria are met:
The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment.
The experience is for the benefit of the intern.
The intern does not displace regular employees but works under close supervision of existing staff.
The employer providing the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded.
There is no guarantee of a job at the conclusion of the internship.
Both parties understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the internship.
Except an unpaid intern is supposed to be for the education of the intern and not provide advantages for the employer.
It isn’t supposed to be the free labor they’re demanding.
Right. And there are actually some legal guidelines for unpaid internships, but most employers don't really follow them.
And unpaid internships although not totally new, weren't as common 20 years ago. They started becoming popular during the recession of 2007-2014.
Another problem is that some employers are using free interns for almost everything. Any and every kind of work, including a restaurant in my area that uses teenagers as "interns" to wait tables, they are paid nothing, and even have to buy their own work uniform. It's disgusting. My guess is these poor kids are so desperate to get some work experience, they'll do it.
How about internships that require experience? I was looking on indeed and found internships that require a year's experience. Why the hell would I intern if I have experience?? It's a scummy way to get employee production for little or free. ����
That's BS��
Most programs require a short internship, usually a month or so, before the certification test. I'm lucky to have a decent job already its just a little short on hours.
I hate that "paid in experience" crap. You cant eat experience or pay rent in it.
An internship should be looked as free education. What college offers free classes?
An internship should be looked as free education. What college offers free classes?
This could be true for a young person who is learning actual job skills that will quickly transfer to a paid job. For someone with a degree/certification, they don't need the "favor" of a year's worth of "free education."
But I'm looking for someone to learn how to clean my house for me. If you know somebody who would like some free education on cleaning toilets and scrubbing baseboards, send them my way!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turf3
Jobs where supply grossly exceeds demand are the kind where unpaid internships can happen.
The best plan is to go into a field where that is not the case.
Yes, and to a place where that is not the case. All of our interns are paid in the $20-25/hour range for college interns, $15 for high school. It's an investment in the future to give people work experience. With our unemployment rate of 3.9% there are far less qualified candidates for jobs. For my last opening there were only 18 applicants and of those only 4 were actually qualified and got interviewed. Meanwhile we are losing people to internal promotions with increasing retirements, and others being poached by other companies.
The problem is that too many people for too long have voted against their own interests and vote in politicians who allow if not encourage these things to happen. Rules on unpaid internships need to be tightened to prevent further abuse.
"Exempt" needs to be tightened too....at the end of Obama's term he changed the lowest salary to be "exempt" from 23K to 50K.....this put it in line after inflation with the long eroded minimum it was in the 60s.....in fact Bush raised it from 11k to 23k because in theory at the old level someone who is "exempt" and works overtime could make less than minimum wage.....but a judge blocked the new rule and then we elected.......
People worry too much about being brainwashed about non-existant "others" who are "taking" from them to their own peril. Wake up America!
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