Before I even begin this post I want to start by saying, I don't recommend anyone take an unpaid internship...especially when there are paid options available to you. I don't agree with unpaid internships in any way as I feel everyone should be paid for their contribution's.
With that being said, myself, I found in a very difficult position. Trying to get a paid internship in my area of Yorkshire involved with Marketing was little to nothing, and I mean nothing. Even still, I found only a handful of unpaid internships, that were involved with marketing. I should add, I was only looking for a summer internship, not a year long as it didn't fit with what I had planned.
I interviewed for a few of them and I got back a few offers and as I found myself in a position where I either take the experience, or I work doing admin and assistant type roles for a full wage. My compromise being, taking the most experience-rich role and undertaking a retail part-time job on the side to still have something coming in.
The role I took was at a very small tech company where I worked alongside the Head of Marketing, making us a team of two. She's probably the best thing to have come out of working there and I still - even after a year of not working there, still in my life and I value her very much.
She provided me with a lot of experience and lessons. That's not to say there weren't a lot of negatives of working there-there definitely was. I only worked 2-3 days a week, but we also ran an event a week, usually on an evening. This meant working a full day... and then some, every week. Which is fine, but for no money, was difficult while still trying to balance a part-time job also.
The actual management of the company was a shambles to be quite honest. What the company did and stood for change at least on a weekly basis, making it difficult especially for carrying out marketing activities. They were also very poor with communication and some people skills and even worse at looking after their staff. Regardless of the business owners... I loved my role. And I loved the rest of the team, and I enjoyed going to work every day. I learnt more than I could have imagined, and honestly, I think it's incredible to start out in a small company because you've involved so much more and your experience is so varied, rather than specific things for example purely content, or analytical or website knowledge, I learnt a little bit of everything. I also became well networked in the Tech community also.
One year on I am in a great position to look back. I GRADUATE next week (how crazy is that) and I'm in a full-time marketing role. I couldn't be happier with the role I've secured myself - where I've been around a month now. And honestly... I owe it all to that internship.
Does that mean you should take one? Maybe not... but also maybe so. If you can find a paid way to get experience, DO IT! If you can't, and you're determined to find experience... This method proved very successful for me. I can't promise you'll gain the same experience I did or that it will guarantee you a job. But it helps... and you're instantly above anyone who has applied for a job with no experience, remember that. Internships that are unpaid shouldn't be allowed in my opinion, as everyone should be paid for the role they play. But regardless, in some instances, can prove extremely valuable.
What do you think of internships in general? Or unpaid internships? Are they fair enough or shouldn't they be allowed?
If you have any questions for me about my experience of an internship - please feel free to reach out to me either via comment or drop me an email. It's on my 'contact me' page!
The role I took was at a very small tech company where I worked alongside the Head of Marketing, making us a team of two. She's probably the best thing to have come out of working there and I still - even after a year of not working there, still in my life and I value her very much.
She provided me with a lot of experience and lessons. That's not to say there weren't a lot of negatives of working there-there definitely was. I only worked 2-3 days a week, but we also ran an event a week, usually on an evening. This meant working a full day... and then some, every week. Which is fine, but for no money, was difficult while still trying to balance a part-time job also.
The actual management of the company was a shambles to be quite honest. What the company did and stood for change at least on a weekly basis, making it difficult especially for carrying out marketing activities. They were also very poor with communication and some people skills and even worse at looking after their staff. Regardless of the business owners... I loved my role. And I loved the rest of the team, and I enjoyed going to work every day. I learnt more than I could have imagined, and honestly, I think it's incredible to start out in a small company because you've involved so much more and your experience is so varied, rather than specific things for example purely content, or analytical or website knowledge, I learnt a little bit of everything. I also became well networked in the Tech community also.
One year on I am in a great position to look back. I GRADUATE next week (how crazy is that) and I'm in a full-time marketing role. I couldn't be happier with the role I've secured myself - where I've been around a month now. And honestly... I owe it all to that internship.
Does that mean you should take one? Maybe not... but also maybe so. If you can find a paid way to get experience, DO IT! If you can't, and you're determined to find experience... This method proved very successful for me. I can't promise you'll gain the same experience I did or that it will guarantee you a job. But it helps... and you're instantly above anyone who has applied for a job with no experience, remember that. Internships that are unpaid shouldn't be allowed in my opinion, as everyone should be paid for the role they play. But regardless, in some instances, can prove extremely valuable.
What do you think of internships in general? Or unpaid internships? Are they fair enough or shouldn't they be allowed?
If you have any questions for me about my experience of an internship - please feel free to reach out to me either via comment or drop me an email. It's on my 'contact me' page!
- Kerry x
No comments :
Post a Comment