i spy things DC

Yesterday the Washington Post ran the headline “More would-be interns paying thousands to land a coveted spot.” Yes, students are paying for the chance to work for free. I can’t say that I am surprised. The battle for undergrad internship experience has escalated markedly since I was in college. It seems my old summer job at the record store and my dad’s business, both of which paid minimum wage, just don’t provide enough “experience” to build an undergrad student’s resume anymore.

With so many students angling for volunteer positions at prestigious insitutions  it’s no surprise that organizations have appeared to provide a leg up for a small fee. The Post reports that these so-called internship NGOs are numerous. One organization, the Fund for American Studies, is in a Dupont mansion right near my apartment. It seems to be doing quite well, as anyone affiliated with the currently dismal college job market assumes it would.

Nice digs (Fund for American Studies)

However, unlike the Post, I am not as angered by the internship-seeking NGOs. These organizations, like expensive tutoring or test-prep services, are opportunists. They have identified a lucrative client and built a business around it, offering secondary helpful services like housing and safety advice. Yes, I will concede that their NGO status represents a more slippery slope in terms of the services they provide and the compensation of their board members, however I do not take issue with this general opportunism. It’s the capitalist way.

The real issue to me is the race for this  undergraduate internship “experience.” The most sought-after internships are often unpaid and competitive; seemingly built for  the financially stable  student who can take a summer off and earn no money for the sake of their resume. Like expensive test prep services, it widens the gap between the have and the have-nots.

I would also argue that internship experiences generally complement, not supercede, “normal” job experience. Leading a student club or working at the local coffeeshop cultivate different skills. The menial minimum wage job teaches discipline and respect, while the student club cultivates leadership and creativity. I know numerous students who have interned places, but never really learned how to work under a normal boss who demands respect and cares little for their personal ambitions.

Now I am not saying the internship is detrimental. It helps expose the undergraduate student to a workplace they see themselves entering,  places demands on student time, and often requires significant work.  It’s just this cycle of resume building keeps perpetuating.

Once grades were not good enough, students started volunteering and leading student organizations. Once campus-centered work wasn’t good enough, students moved onto internships and fellowships. And now, seeing that an internship in and of itself isn’t good enough, students have started “founding” things. No joke. Students are “founding,” with the assistance of their parents, non-profits and community organizations.

Yikes. Articles like the one in yesterday’s Post demonstrate how badly perspective is needed. Let’s work to add some, shall we?