If you were a fresh graduate looking for an internship
@TrinityDownpour (790)
Liechtenstein
December 20, 2012 5:18am CST
Will you accept extremely low pay or no pay at all for an internship?
I know that internship is for learning but sometimes internship can mean cheap or free labor. In Malaysia some companies tend to use the interns as free labor because they think they are doing them a favor by offering work experience.
Or the companies will underpay them. Converting RM to USD the pay would be roughly around $100-$600 per month. But getting RM1200/RM1800 (roughly $400-$600) is extremely rare. Getting RM300-RM600 ($100-$200) is much more common.
It can be discouraging for someone who wants a job that support the family but majority of the job wants a worker with at least a few months of work experience as a requirement. So in the end internship is a way to go.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@maezee (41985)
• United States
6 Jan 13
I would not fall for a free internship (or unpaid, rather) because it's common knowledge...We need money to survive! Unless it was in a field that I really wanted to get into and this internship would give me a HUGE head up on the competition. Then I would do it very part time. But you're right in thinking that yeah, it does seem like it's robbing people who should be getting paid for the work they do. Hmm!
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
21 Dec 12
Uhh, from what I know of internships they usually aren't paid at all. So my personal plan, (when I'm closer to graduation) was to accept the internship that would look the prettiest on my resume. I fully expect it would be unpaid. But then again, I think you should get an internship before you're even out of school so that once you graduate then you have a better chance of getting a job right off the bat.
I think if it looks like a company is offering internships for cheap labor, I'd re-examine how good the experience is, what the company's creds are, and whatnot. If I'm going to be working for free, I want to know that the work is going to look good on my bare resume beforehand.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
21 Dec 12
What I know is that internship or OJT (on job training) have no pay at all in most companies. When you say internship, that may mean that the people who will take it is still a student. It will be part of their curriculum.
I have a small internetshop and I do have two OJTs. But since my business is just small, I can't afford to give them allowance even if I like to. His batchmates do have OJTs in big companies, lucky for them if they receive allowance.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
21 Dec 12
When I was doing internship, I was still a student. I didn't really expect to receive payment for my services. It is part of school program, and I was rather grateful I was accepted in that establishment. You are there for the learning, and it's just for a couple hours or so, anyway.
Nevertheless, it'd be much appreciated by the interns, if a little honorarium would be rewarded. It is also important to ensure that the experience you'll be getting is in line with your course. Some companies might get you to do things that are not related to your job, at all.
@kunu111185 (211)
• India
21 Dec 12
This is correct that people working as interns are often being neglected.They have to work very hard with very less compensation or sometimes without also.Some company used to ask money from them instead of paying them.Work experince is certainly important for someone fresh/new to professional field but they should be compensated as per policy for their work.I did face a lot of problem just after my degree to get a job in company as I was rejected every time because I didn't have work experince.
