By Mag Gottlieb, Director of Career Services

Question:

Nearly everyone I know is doing unpaid internships. I really don't like the idea of working for free. What is your opinion about unpaid internships?

Answer:

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! --- you've hit on one of my biggest pet peeves of this century! I absolutely deplore the idea of young people/students having to work for free. Honestly, I think many of the folks in my generation have sold your generation down the river in a "one-way" only sinking ship. "Back in the day" --- there was such a thing as an "entry-level job". Nowadays however, many employers have gotten "smart" (read cheap) and have done away with entry-level jobs. Instead, they want smart/able-bodied youngsters to work for free. And, they think they're doing you a favor for letting you work for them for free!

Baby-boomers are known for starting the revolution for women, gays, blacks, anti-war, and the downtrodden in general. Now, some of those same baby boomers are cheating you and others in your generation. I am hoping someone in your generation will take up the cause and make a revolution vs. free labor. The U.S. Department of Labor is currently looking into the issue of unpaid internships. But, they are moving slowly. They, the US Congress, and President Obama need to hear from you and others.

I know, I know - some smarty pants will write to me and say they really need the experience the unpaid internship provides. My answer is - "why does it have to be for free?"  If colleges/universities would stand together and insist employers pay workers - they would have to do so. I really think GWU and many other places need to garner the courage to "stand tall". Universities need to put aside their insecurities and speak out in favor of young workers. Students pay all this money to go to school and then have to pay to live to work for free.

I'm sure I'll hear from some folks about this. But, my biggest problem with unpaid internships is I think they are un-American. That is, in many cases only well-off students are able to work for free. That means people who are not born into a privileged home are left behind before they even start "the race of life." Let's all work together and start by insisting that at least "for-profit" entities be required to pay interns. Then, we can move from there to the not-for-profits. And, political jobs - don't get me started on those either. Do you see any multi-millionaire Congressmen forgoing their salaries for the betterment of society? Hardly. I feel the ones who are already rich should forgo their salaries and instead use the monies to pay their interns. Capitol Hill used to have a lot more paid interns. Now that entry-level jobs have been done away with, even the Congressmen making the laws are taking advantage of the system.

Please do write to your politicians as well as to GWU's President asking them all to take a stand on this very important issue you've raised! Good luck and thanks for asking such a great/timely question.