The average Tuesday night, I can be found cramming in all of my Tuesday and Wednesday schoolwork, late into the night. Bright and early following morning, I’m on a bus or in a cab, heading into the city. I’ll spend the next 8 hours busting my ass for no pay, and wondering why I continue to put myself through it.
I’m on my fourth unpaid internship, and each has been valuable and educational in different ways than the last. The Philadelphia Zoo was a great introduction to the internship world. Since I was one of over 50 interns, there was the opportunity for us all to learn from each other, and figure things out as a team. At the National Aquarium, I interned with the dolphin trainers, and I learned that employers expect to see independent initiative. I quickly realized that, on the job, there is no such thing as downtime. There’s always paperwork to do or, in this case, algae to scrub. With my current virtual journalism internship, I’ve learned that communication and responsibility for deadlines are vital to being a trusted employee.
The one thing all of my experiences have had in common is their hard work, time commitment and inescapable lack of paycheck. When so much of your time goes to an unpaid position, holding part-time jobs on the side often has to be a part of the equation. That means working two jobs, and it can make keeping up with schoolwork incredibly challenging.
So why do I keep doing it? There are countless benefits to the internship experience that have nothing to do with making bank. But, for starters, here are three reasons that unpaid internships are worth your time:
Learning the Ins and Outs
Entering the working world can be tough. It’s scary figuring out how to dress, how to handle the commute and who can answer your countless questions. But internship experience can help smooth the transition into your first real job. Since you’ve already had some experience, you’ll be a pro at dressing cute-but-professional, and you’ll know how to phrase your newbie questions without looking completely clueless. The things you learn in an internship go beyond acquiring knowledge about your field, since these are valuable lessons in becoming a responsible, functioning adult.
Gaining Experience
“If I have to have experience to get a job, then how do I get a job to gain experience?” It’s a question college students ask themselves at least once. Unpaid internships can be incredibly valuable here. Companies that are hiring paid interns often expect an experienced individual who can produce quality results. Organizations with unpaid interns, however, can often afford to have numerous interns, increasing your chances. Once you’ve had this experience, not only will you have a relevant work experience to add to your resume, you’ll also be vastly more prepared for the next job.
Making Memories, Not Cash
For me, it’s not about acquiring money: it’s about collecting experiences. Not just “experience,” or what you use to pad your resume, but experiences – exciting times and learning opportunities that you’ll look back on with gratitude, not resentment. At the Philadelphia Zoo, I spent every day teaching people –children and adults alike — why they should care about animals and nature. To top it off, I had the priceless chance to meet the zoo’s rhinoceros up close. At my first aquarium internship, I learned what goes into caring for and training bottlenose dolphins, and I got to know those amazing animals on a personal level. Even now, working in the National Aquarium’s Development department, I’m learning how to raise funds for important conservation and public education projects.
That’s not to say that everyone needs to find positions involving adorable animals or saving wildlife to have a worthwhile internship experience. The reason these opportunities were so rewarding for me was because I found passion in my work. Internships are a great opportunity to find your own passion and learn how best to use your talents.
It’s always hard to stay motivated when you don’t feel compensated, but remember that compensation isn’t always financial. Finding jobs you truly care about, are deeply intrigued by, or overall interested in makes the work its own reward.