Internships: Paid and Unpaid

 INTERNSHIPS: Paid and Unpaid

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion on social media in India about whether unpaid internships are acceptable. With emotions running high on both sides (employees and interns), I wanted to share my perspective and contribute to the discussion.

Paid and Unpaid Internships:

Students are eventually faced with the same dilemma: they must choose between paid and unpaid internships. Why is it even a quandary, you may ask? The choice appears to be noticeable. Paid internships are preferable because, well, they pay, right?

Unfortunately, in our experience, it's not quite that simple. Money is essential, but it is only one of the factors students should consider when selecting an internship. An internship is paid doesn't mean it's right for you. In fact, if you only choose it for the money, it can hurt your career in the long run. In this post, we'll look at the less obvious benefits and drawbacks of paid and unpaid internships. If you're considering paid vs unpaid internships, we hope the following information will help you make an informed decision:

Paid Internship – The Pros and Cons 

You might be surprised to learn that paid internships aren't all sunshine and roses. They frequently have drawbacks, some of which are significant. Let's look at some of the significant benefits and drawbacks of paid internships for international students.

Unpaid Internships – The Pros and Cons 

Let's face it: having to work but not being compensated doesn't sound appealing. When given the option of paid or unpaid internships, most students choose the former. Unpaid internships are also excellent for character development. We don't mean to extol the virtues of not being paid. Being broke, saddled with student loans, and forced to work for free isn't easy. We'd prefer it if you made money. However, it does help you grow as a person. If you survive the ordeal – and you will, just like the others – you will be stronger and wiser for it. And you'll know you've got what it takes to get through adversity.

Conclusion:

There’s no clear winner in the battle of paid vs unpaid internships. Paid internships and unpaid internships both have their pros and cons. Also, every internship opportunity is unique, and so is every student. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. 

We hope you accept an unpaid opportunity out of hand just because it doesn’t pay you. And we also hope you don’t blindly pursue a paid internship just because it’s settled! Instead, choose the internship opportunity that makes you happy, helps you to grow, and builds up your career.