Will Unpaid College Internships Soon Be a Thing of the Past?

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• May 8, 2014
• By Susan Shain
• 1 Comment

The unpaid college internship, which reigned supreme over the past decade as the way to secure a job after graduation, may soon be disappearing.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, both employers and colleges are starting to rethink their internship policies.

In light of several high-profile lawsuits brought by former interns (including one against them), magazine publisher Condé Nast removed their internship program entirely. Many other companies are following suit: either ending their programs, or culling their offerings down to a few paid positions.

From the story:

A survey last year from the National Association of Colleges and Employers suggests unpaid internships don’t help students land full-time jobs. Alums of unpaid internships had full-time job offers at nearly the same rate as those who had no internships at all—about 37%, compared with 62% for those with paid internships.

Though cutting unpaid internships may lead to better pay and richer experiences for interns who land paid positions, it also means increased competition for everyone else.

On the other side of the table, colleges are also starting to crack down. Hoping to protect their students from what some think is unpaid labor, Columbia University is no longer offering credit for internships, while Hamilton College won’t post unpaid opportunities from companies that also offer paid positions.

How do you feel about unpaid internships? Do you think the system should change, or are they a valuable part of a student’s preparation for the career world?

Susan Shain is a travel blogger who loves helping people discover adventure through international travel or alternative careers.

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