HeatherHuhman.com - Latest Comments

Re: Data Reveals If Your Internship Will Turn Into A Job

Erica Moss — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:30:38 -0000

This is great info, Heather! Also, I appreciate you linking to my post on YouTern.

Re: 15 Quotes To Inspire You During Your Internship

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 27 May 2014 16:26:54 -0000

Hi Kari! I’m so glad to hear this post inspired you. I totally understand how it can be tough to transition into a new internship. However, if you focus on your goals and do your best to soak up everything you learn like a sponge, you’ll find that a lot inspiration will come to you. Good luck with your summer internship!

Re: 5 Misconceptions About Perfect Summer Internships

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 27 May 2014 16:25:54 -0000

Thank you Katie for your thoughtful comment! I definitely agree with you that young adults should apply for paid internships -- and it’s awesome that you’ve secured five!

Re: Sure-Fire Way To Land A Cool Internship In Your College Town

joshua kosch — Sat, 24 May 2014 12:16:06 -0000

cool, but if its a small town its almost impossible to land a paying internship with s successful business you can put on a resume. for those out there. pray for me.

Re: 5 Misconceptions About Perfect Summer Internships

Katie — Thu, 22 May 2014 16:44:56 -0000

I disagree with the fact that you should not limit your internship search to only paid opportunities, and that only companies like Google pay well. I held 7 internships in college- 5 of which were paid, and paid me about $10-16 an hour. I could not have found a summer job that paid me more than this. Except for my first internship and a short stint at a PR company during my winter break one year, I did limit the search to paid positions and even negotiated with small companies to offer compensation. For some students, such as myself, an unpaid internship was simply not an option. If you need to make some $ to support yourself, you SHOULD limit your search to paid opportunities... trust me, they're out there!

Re: Part 1: My 4-Hour Workweek Dreamline

Nesli - Girl on the Bike — Thu, 22 May 2014 04:15:18 -0000

Totally agree wıth D. It's not a to-do list but a powerful mind opener :) Dreamline..

Re: 15 Quotes To Inspire You During Your Internship

Kari — Tue, 20 May 2014 23:45:00 -0000

Thank you Heather for writing this. I stumbled upon it because I was seeking inspiration with being at my internship for a couple days. I know that isn't much time. Friends and family have told me to give the internship a week or two and I'll be settled in. The trick is to get to that point. With your advice and a few of these quotes, I feel like I can. So thank you.

Re: Is Higher Education Ruining The Future Of The Workplace?

Heather R. Huhman — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:13:12 -0000

Sorry for the slow response! I obviously need to update my notification settings because Disqus did not alert me to this one!

You said something really key that I've noticed as well: The small liberal arts colleges are KILLING IT in the career prep department. Absolutely killing it. More people should consider these small liberal arts colleges for that reason alone. 99.99% of applicants have a college degree too, so for liberal arts in particular, it doesn't truly matter where your degree came from. But knowing how to properly apply for a job, and in this case have the internships under your belt that your peers might not? Now that could truly set you apart.

Thanks for reading!

Re: Sure-Fire Way To Land A Cool Internship In Your College Town

Heather R. Huhman — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:57:53 -0000

It's like I always say, interns (and intern candidates) need to be their own best advocates. I actually did this while I was in college because I came back from summer break to pick up my internship in my college town, and the company had restructured! So I needed to think fast to get a position to replace it. It really does work! Thanks for reading.

Re: Sure-Fire Way To Land A Cool Internship In Your College Town

Brittany Schlacter — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:47:47 -0000

Thanks for this great post, Heather! This is a wonderful idea for students attending a college in small town that has very few internship opportunities for their major. I was in a similar situation in college, and it led me to take an internship in the nearest city where i had to commute a long distance three times a week. I think writing an internship proposal would be a great addition to any college professional development class. I could have definitely benefitted from this idea during my intern years!

Re: Is Higher Education Ruining The Future Of The Workplace?

Sarah Powers — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 12:20:50 -0000

I LOVE the idea of having universities require an internship before graduation. There is so much to be learned outside the classroom that can contribute to the quality of your degree, making a graduate that much more of an asset when they finally land a job. I have a family member that goes to a small liberal arts college that requires their students to either study abroad or complete an internship before they graduate. It's a great way to make sure students are learning how to use their degree in their related field before sending them off without any practice. It would make a smarter, more confident worker once they're hired.

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:58:33 -0000

I have a feeling you would have made it work, had one of them been unpaid. However, I think it's super awesome you didn't have to deal with that aspect! Internships are so, so important for launching your career. Thanks for reading!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Jule — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:43:03 -0000

I definitely agree, internships should be paid. I have had four different internships throughout college, three of which were paid and the fourth had a stipend at the end. When I set out to apply for internships, I got really lucky for finding the ones I did, but my search was definitely limited for financial reasons.

Interning is quite the time commitment so I don't know how I would have managed had they been unpaid. Like you said, "low paid internships force young adults to become time management ninjas and create priorities in their schedule." This is 100 percent true. Not only did I get the opportunity to learn skills for my career, but I also got to learn those life skills.

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 13:53:49 -0000

Glad you've taken full advantage of the modern internship! I do understand the desire to want to be in person with your coworkers, though. I'm going to make an assumption that you're from a small town, which makes it extremely difficult to find a relevant, paid internship within easy commute distance. There are all sorts of efforts taking place to attract entrepreneurs to smaller locales -- places you wouldn't normally consider "startup communities". Why are there not similar efforts to help these communities build awesome (and paid) internship programs? Thanks for reading!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Sarah Powers — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:38:33 -0000

I had several unpaid virtual internships while I was in college. And even though I was working remotely for no monetary compensation, I learned very useful and credible skills that I wouldn't have had the chance to learn otherwise. Now, I have a great internship (paid!) where I get to use those skills I was only developing in my previous internship experiences now on an expert level — so it feels all the more worth it. And I have no doubts that the practice and application of those skills in both my paid and unpaid internships will help me immensely in not only finding a job, but also being the best at it.

But I also have to say that it was very difficult for me as someone who wanted nothing more than to be able to complete an on-site internship in the field I desired, but couldn't because all were unpaid and I couldn't afford to move to, live, and work in a new city for free. So, while I really wish that all internships were paid, giving all students the chance to go where they want to go, I also agree that valuable skills are still very much attainable through remote positions, whether you are being compensated for your time or not.

Re: The Rise Of The Intern Counterculture

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:52:39 -0000

Hi Zane,

Now wait just a second...disagreeing with me is one thing and certainly your right, but calling my work "fluff" was completely unnecessary. Fluff implies there's no inherent value, and what I wrote -- whether you agree with it or not -- does have value.

I didn't say you're seeking compensation merely to offset the boring minutia. Of course not! With a proper internship, I'd actually hope there isn't much boring minutia no matter how much they pay you.

However, if you are seeking compensation to pay for college, I don't think you'll find enough even in paid internships (and thus have to balance another part-time job). Whereas you learn theory in the classroom, you put that theory into practice at an internship -- but you're still just learning. Most employers don't pay extremely well for you to learn from your mistakes on their dime.

With this piece, I wanted to get interns and intern candidates thinking about what they should really be getting out of an internship -- two or three (or more!) relevant, quantifiable accomplishment stories they can add to their resume. I do believe internships should be paid -- and moreso when the company is being paid for the work you're completing as an intern. But I also believe that's not the MOST important aspect of an internship.

As someone who landed an entry-level job less than a week after graduating, I can say I thank my lucky stars for all my internship experiences in college because I was able to live on my own immediately. Very few people who didn't partake in internships can say that -- and are paying the price. With this piece, I wanted to get people thinking about that steep price. Again, that's not to say internships should be unpaid -- but rather that internships play an important role whether they are paid or not.

To compare stealing my books (most of which are free, BTW) with an internship someone has willingly taken on unpaid is really an inaccurate comparison. To be more accurate, you could have brought up the dozens of media outlets I've written for unpaid for many years -- content many, many people have benefited from. I go into each of my media relationships knowing I will be unpaid for my work but that I'll be "compensated" with great exposure and fascinating conversations like this one. There are many writers who refuse to take unpaid gigs -- and that's certainly their right. I'd rather ensure my advise is widely available.

Anyway, at the end of the day, I want interns and intern candidates to realize they have choices and feel empowered to act upon them. I think it's super awesome you've never taken an unpaid internship (and that you love your employer!). That is a true accomplishment for which you should be proud! I hope each of your experiences have been as great as your current one and that you land a job immediately upon graduation -- you are proof paid internships DO exist and it's possible to land them, even if it's your first one.

Thanks for reading -- and a stimulating conversation!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:21:54 -0000

You said so many great things it's hard to know where to being in my response!

"Students/internship-seekers need to not get stuck in this 'poor me' mindset, and employers need to ensure they're offering a position that unpaid interns like myself will later rave about!" So, so true on both accounts! It's that 'poor me' or anti-hustle attitude that sinks career ships. Never, ever play the victim -- be empowered to take action on your own behalf! And yes, of course, employers MUST work harder to create better experiences. I hope we start seeing more conversations around the experience aspect of internships, rather than just talking pay all the time.

"If there is something you want, you need to figure out how to do it. If the internship isn't the least bit beneficial, quit! If there is no way you can figure out how to do an unpaid internship & survive, there is no reason you should! Life is about choices, and how you approach those choices will impact your future (and career)." Not much to add here other than right on! You must be aware of your situation and make the best decisions you can for the benefit of your current situation and future career.

I do hope we see a day when all internships are paid, but until the government revises its rules and holds itself (and nonprofit organizations) accountable to the same standards as everyone else, they are setting a bad example for other organizations to follow. I really do think that's the level of change that will be necessary for all internships to become paid. For now, hopefully companies will focus on making each and every internship a good and relevant experience for their interns.

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:07:08 -0000

Great points, Nikita! Doing your homework is invaluable in the internship process. Even though it's disappointing that such extreme efforts are necessary, as another commenter pointed out, this is the world we live in for now. Interns must be vigilant and their own best advocates. Thanks for reading!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Marikaye DeTemple — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:12:03 -0000

I was really lucky, my first internship was paid & valuable, my second internship paid & valuable but not the most beneficial of the 3 internships I completed, my third internship, which I did post-grad, was unpaid. I actually had to pay my university so that I could complete the internship. The internship required me to move to another city (while I still was under lease in my college town... thus paying two rents), it required me to get 2 part time jobs. I worked 3 days a week at the internship. That unpaid internship, I'd do it all over again! The experience was imperative
to what is now my career. I heightened my time management and communication skills, I met people at my 'other job' (http://merrykake.blogspot.c... that impacted my life, I learned to relax and unwind quickly, to enjoy again just being with myself!

It was a rough summer no doubt. I didn't see my family/friends much, my Mom thankfully was able to aid me when I was barely scraping by financially, but at NO time was I a slave. At NO time would that thought have ever even crossed my mind. It was an experience I was lucky to have. Did it pay off and 'win' me a career with that company? No! I worked just as hard as I did that summer to find an entry-level position after it was said and done. A great deal of value comes from the mindset of how someone approaches the experience. Students/internship-seekers need to not get stuck in this 'poor me' mindset, and employers need to ensure they're offering a position that unpaid interns like myself will later rave about!

If there is something you want, you need to figure out how to do it. If the internship isn't the least bit beneficial, quit! If there is no way you can figure out how to do an unpaid internship & survive, there is no reason you should! Life is about choices, and how you approach those choices will impact your future (and career). Unpaid internships should always be an educational experience. Never should they be free labor. And at the end of the day, if all internships can be paid, that's an even better route! But until then, interns need to keep learning and making choices that will help benefit them in the long run!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:40:08 -0000

There's always a choice -- and luckily, there are many fields in which virtual internships take place now, eliminating the need to pay two rents.

Let's look at the 168 hours in a week and factor in school. So 70 hours of sleep, 30 hours of class plus studying/homework, 40 hours of a paid non-resume job. That's 140 hours -- you still have 28 hours left! Not all internships have to take up 40 hours a week. There's plenty of value you can get out of half that!

Thanks so much for reading.

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Nikita Patel — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:39:42 -0000

Heather, great post! While employers need to do their best to evaluate their internships programs, students and young professionals also need to do their homework in order to find opportunities which will provide them with solid experiences, paid or not.

For example, every internship I had resulted in great learning experiences, built connections, and references. This was likely because I did my research before applying to any of my internships, including contacting past interns and reading reviews online. While you should always formulate your own opinion, gaining the feedback and referrals of others really helped me to find the best experiences in my industry.

So, if you discover an internship is filled with coffee pouring or errand running during the research process, you might want to consider alternative options which will provide you will more fulfilling experiences. Obviously, the latter is the better option, even if you aren't getting paid.

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Julie Mastrine — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:29:17 -0000

Interesting! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this.

One of the issues I had in college is that I was not only paying to live in my college town year-round (monthly leases are scarce here!), but taking an unpaid gig elsewhere would've forced me to pay rent in two places at once. While internships are agreed to, I think many people equate unpaid gigs to slavery because the choice itself is often an illusion. Students are presented with working a dead-end job unrelated to their degree or an unpaid gig that could lead to a job, professional connections, or resume fodder. Students who hope for professional advancement will probably take a chance at the latter, and that can put them in a sticky place financially.

What worked for me was finding internships for companies in my college town to ensure the experience was affordable. Alternatives to internships can also be a good idea -- like volunteering, getting involved in student government or other campus organizations. Like you said, students definitely have to hustle to make internships work!

Re: The Rise Of The Intern Counterculture

Zane Riley — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:18:13 -0000

Heather,

This is a definition of a fluff piece. I understand the need for articles like this as it's great for engagement, but this deliberately ignores the actual serious issues that surround unpaid internships. We are not seeking compensation to offset the boring minutia that often plagues entry-level jobs. We seek compensation to allow us to simply make it through college.

This Business Insider diagram (attached and here at this url - http://goo.gl/wFqtu) perfectly illustrates the exorbitant growth of tuition compared to stagnant salaries this generation will see as it enters the work force.

As someone who has written so much on internships, I am almost surprised that you wrote something so off-base with the demographic you're trying to reach.

And let's be honest here:

"landing a job after college that aligns with your major quicker than your peers can also be seen as a form of compensation."

I do not believe that if people began pirating your books, you would see the high number of downloads as "compensation" even if that means your books are being read more than compared to your colleagues.

Good work deserves to be paid no matter the situation. I hope you reconsider this piece.

Signed,

Zane Riley
Senior at Southeast Missouri State University
(Transparency: I work at http://rlci.com, an advertising agency, who compensates me well for the work I do. I love my employer. Also, I have never taken an unpaid internship. I could not financially support myself and pay for school.)

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

Heather R. Huhman — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:03:14 -0000

You are 110% right -- employers MUST be better about providing internship programs that are of value (by which I mean the intern can add several relevant, quantifiable accomplishment stories to their resume at the end). It's not enough to call something an "internship".

When done properly, internships are hard work for employers because there's a plan in place for what the intern will accomplish and plenty of ongoing feedback and mentoring. And that's exactly how it should be. After all, how can we as employers expect interns to work hard during the experience if we aren't ourselves?

But until there comes a time when all internships are equally good experiences, interns must remain vigilant and look out for their own best interests.

Thanks for reading!

Re: Unpaid Employment: 21st Century Slavery?

mojotastic — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:56:16 -0000

Great post! It really bugs me when people compare unpaid internships to slavery. The only thing like slavery...is slavery. Whereas with an unpaid internship it's likely you went into it knowing you wouldn't be paid and can, if you choose, leave at any time.

That said, there are some employers who either take advantage of unpaid labor or just haven't put a lot of time and effort into their internship programs. Employers should be better and should be more serious about providing an educational experience to interns instead of just looking for free labor. Unfortunately, it falls on the intern most of the time to make sure they check out the program and do their homework before accepting ANY position, paid or unpaid. As an intern it's your wallet and your education: so do the legwork and make sure you get the best internship possible!