All work and no pay

To be paid, or not to be paid. That is the question. With an unemployment rate nearly twice that of two years ago, college students are looking for anything that may make them seem valuable to the job market. Internships prove to be beneficial to students looking for experience. However, many come with the experience of a 9-to-5 without the accompanying financial gains.

At Keene State College, internships are recommended to students instead of required, as they are at other institutions. Those who organize their own internships often find many are unpaid. Senior Brianna Sartori interned at Monadnock Family Services, working with an after school program tutoring and organizing activities for children. Sartori said she worked ten hours a week until her internship requirements were fulfilled and then volunteered. However, a job promotion with an additional 20 hour-per-week commitment ended her work with the program.

“[MFS] would want to pay us, but it would take away money for the kids,” Sartori said.  Sartori said although her internship gave her unparalleled learning experience in her sociology major, its lack of a financial compensation made it expendable when matched against a full-time job.

“For most kids, I think it is the money and they need one or the other,” Sartori said. “If you were in more of a city it wouldn’t be as difficult, but to get a paid internship, you need a good resume because everyone’s going for paid.”

Sophomore Cameron King took a different route and received a paid internship tailored more towards a hobby than a career. He is slated to work with Skydive New England over the summer as a marketing intern, reserving events during the day and promoting the organization in the afternoons and evenings. He found out about the internship because he was a member of a skydiving fan page on Facebook.

“The number one reason was the extreme aspect. I’d rather do that than be in an office,” King said. “It’s something I didn’t want to pass up paid or unpaid.”

Academic and Career Services at KSC hosts a job board on which employers can post job and internship opportunities.

Coordinator of Employer Relations and career advisor Mary Pleasanton said she asks those who post to notify the college of KSC students accepted into internships and to give a response as to how much they are being paid, but sometimes has difficulty getting feedback.

Students can work with Pleasanton or Associate Director of Academic and Career Advising Kelly Graham on acquiring paid and unpaid internships.  Graham said about 30-50 percent of internships will be unpaid, but that varies by major. She said business and computer fields usually offer more paid internships than the health, news or non-profit fields, but experience is valued across the board.

“Many businesses are looking for students with at least one year of internship experience,” Graham said.

Students can organize internships to count for college credit. Graphic design professor Robert Kostick runs an upper-level course for students interested in internship work. In the course, Kostick works as a coordinator between the student and the site, developing a contract of how many hours the student will work and how they will make the internship an academic experience.

“You’re not forced to do it; you have an invitation to do it,” Kostick said. Kostick said he puts a 160-hour cap on internships to stop businesses from taking advantage of student labor. Kostick said in such a situation, it is within the student’s full rights to have a conversation with their employer about negotiating for pay or terminating the internship.
“Nobody’s expected to go out there and work for nothing, unless someone’s not paying attention,” Kostick said. King said he understands the stresses placed upon both students and employers in internships.

“Definitely, from a student standpoint, I think there should be a lot more paid internships, but from an employer, companies can’t be dishing out money,” King said. “I do understand why companies do that.”

Graham, who has internship experience in family services and event planning, said despite the money, or lack thereof, the work will pay off in the end.

“Even if a student has to take part in an unpaid internship and that’s a financial burden, the professional and transferable skills they get are larger benefits and will be invaluable to them as KSC students,” Graham said.

Corey Smith can be contacted at csmith@keeneequinox.com.