Why I Wouldn’t do an Unpaid Internship

AUTHOR: MANASA S.

Manasa (she/her) from India is an Intersectional Feminist, Poet and Sociologist. She is currently participating in the One Future Fellowship that focuses on Feminist Leadership. She is also self-publishing a poetry book based on the issues and trauma within the Brown community.

Manasa completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology and she graduated from Middlesex University, London, with a masters degree in International Relations. She is looking forward to pursuing a career in a Human Rights organisation.

The foreign policy field is rife with unpaid internships. As a recent graduate with an International Relations degree and an interest in policy-making, I ended up in some unpaid positions. After a few encounters, I decided not to offer my labour for free. Here are my reasons why and my advice for anyone considering undertaking an unpaid internship.

It’s exploitative

I was hired as an unpaid PR Intern at a Law firm in India. A few days into the internship, I realised that the execution of my tasks helped the firm but not my career. My tasks were in no way challenging and, therefore, there was no learning outcome or professional growth. My tasks were limited to engaging on the firm’s social media by resharing and commenting on their posts as a third-person. What I was asked to do was entirely different from the job description and there was no scope for me to apply anything that I studied at university. The firm was simply exploiting my labour without recognising my potential or helping me to develop. As there was no opportunity for relevant skill-building, I soon quit the internship.

It means you’d effectively have to pay to work 

Most of us can’t afford to work for free. We have to pay for things like transport, rent and food and if we work from home, there are extra costs like Internet services. Unpaid internships mean interns essentially have to pay to gain work experience rather than being paid for their work. Obviously, there will be exceptions but most of us won’t have the financial means and the privilege to be able to do this.

Even worse, some companies charge their interns to do work experience! In 2020, I came across an internship opportunity on LinkedIn. I emailed the HR manager expressing my interest and was told that I would have to pay 5000 rupees (about £50) to work there for 3 months. Paying to participate in an internship has become quite common in India. She also said the stipend will be based on my performance. I found this very suspicious so I passed on the opportunity.

It’s unethical 

Unpaid positions are often filled by wealthy candidates who can afford to work for free, which means everyone else loses out on the opportunity to gain experience and career opportunities. High-profile international organisations such as the UN offer unpaid roles that are highly competitive due to the kind of experience their interns gain. But the reality is that the vast majority of us couldn’t afford to take an internship like this. This makes the organisation and the foreign policy field more elite and less representative which is ironic as the UN is supposed to affirm equality by providing equal and fair opportunities. 

The UN might also not choose candidates based on their nationality by not providing them with work permits. For example, applicants from Mumbai may not be selected to work at an opportunity in New York as it involves a lengthy process of visa sponsoring.

Also, unpaid positions have little to no employee benefits. Usually, contracts mention nothing about sick leave, protection against harassment or future job offers. So even if someone could afford to work with no pay, they would be forced to work without any job security. 

You’d be seen as replaceable

When an organisation doesn’t provide any stipend, benefits, or a definite contract promising a job in the future and hasn’t invested in training the interns, it implies that the intern is easily replaceable. By replaceable, it may suggest two things: one, the position does not require specialised skills and knowledge so anyone could carry out the given tasks. If you come across an unpaid internship like this, you’d need to think about what kind of value it adds to your career and professional interests. Or two, it is highly competitive and there are numerous other candidates (even though it’s an unpaid role). So if you got an unpaid internship and you made an error at work, the organisation could bring in a newer candidate to take over your position. Instead of accommodating your mistakes as part of training, they could replace you. This creates an unequal relationship between you and the organisation. 

What to do if you are considering applying for an unpaid internship:

Make a list 

Make a pro-con list. Weigh it up and see if you can afford to take it. Factor in your living expenses, like food, rent and transport, and then do the math. 

Think about whether the role will bring you positive opportunities in the future. If you don’t think there’s any potential to learn more or enhance your skills or if it doesn't help you in networking, then there is no point in pursuing the internship. Move on and search for a position that is more beneficial for you.

Know your worth

If you do decide to apply for the internship, you could outline your skills and professional experience and explain how they would be valuable to the company. If the organisation still isn’t willing to pay you for your skills and experience then try and find an organisation that will!  

Try and negotiate

It doesn't hurt to ask! Get in touch with HR and explain that you can’t afford to work for free and without any benefits. Try and negotiate with them. For example, you can tell them you could do unpaid work for a month or two if you are promised full-time employment and job security upon completion of the internship. Or you could negotiate reimbursement for travel, internet and lunch expenses. If they aren’t willing to budge then think about what position this leaves you in. 

Concluding thoughts

I understand how frustrating it is to come across an unpaid opportunity and have to pass on it. But we all deserve to be paid for our labour, skills, and expertise, and no one should take this for granted or exploit us. Keep trying and you will land in an organisation that understands your worth. I hope the tips are useful. All the best for your job hunt! 

Published 9th September 2021

Edited by Ashvini Rae