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Very difficult issue, with some good points raised in this article. I really don't know if I can decide on a stance. The place where I did my unpaid internship is now essentially splitting one person's wages between three people. Yes, they should probably just have one full time person for the job, but they would not be able to sustain their programme of events without three members of staff. That said, I have just invoiced them for the work I did last week and it feels really good. I like getting paid. I love the work I do, and it is the same work I did all last year of my unpaid internship, except now I get a wage for it. I wouldn't have been offered this work had I not been known to them from last year.

I don't know how I feel about sending employers who take on interns to prison. It can be argued that the experience gained and contacts made will repay the intern later on. The problem is that it isn't consistent - for example I found my internship really useful in terms of gaining confidence and knowledge, and reputable references and contacts, whereas the author of this article, Lewis Parker, clearly had a different experience.

Interns should be paid like apprentices - not as much as trained employees, but at least paid for their work, and enough to live on. That's the only way the system can be made fairer.

RMStapley , Writer , 26/01/13 , 245 AP

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I completely agree with everything you've written here: I am still applying to unpaid internships because I am unemployed and feel like I have no choice if I am going to achieve my ambitions. The Job Centre has no idea on how to help me find the work I want to do.

I am ambitious and prepared to work hard, but it is so disheartening to see that even unpaid internships have become wildly competitive; somewhat ironically I have been trying to find a way to get a journalism internship with Dazed & Confused, in which you recently published your 'Lost Generation' feature. How would I apply to Dazed for an internship (God Forbid)?

Darren8 , Writer , 24/01/13 , 115 AP

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c6f17df5-d667-4ec5-a204-a150014ca361

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Very difficult issue, with some good points raised in this article. I really don't know if I can decide on a stance. The place where I did my unpaid internship is now essentially splitting one person's wages between three people. Yes, they should probably just have one full time person for the job, but they would not be able to sustain their programme of events without three members of staff. That said, I have just invoiced them for the work I did last week and it feels really good. I like getting paid. I love the work I do, and it is the same work I did all last year of my unpaid internship, except now I get a wage for it. I wouldn't have been offered this work had I not been known to them from last year.

I don't know how I feel about sending employers who take on interns to prison. It can be argued that the experience gained and contacts made will repay the intern later on. The problem is that it isn't consistent - for example I found my internship really useful in terms of gaining confidence and knowledge, and reputable references and contacts, whereas the author of this article, Lewis Parker, clearly had a different experience.

Interns should be paid like apprentices - not as much as trained employees, but at least paid for their work, and enough to live on. That's the only way the system can be made fairer.

RMStapley , Writer , 26/01/13 , 245 AP
- Report
2e4cc9ab-49de-4161-be90-a152012754ce
I completely agree with everything you've written here: I am still applying to unpaid internships because I am unemployed and feel like I have no choice if I am going to achieve my ambitions. The Job Centre has no idea on how to help me find the work I want to do.

I am ambitious and prepared to work hard, but it is so disheartening to see that even unpaid internships have become wildly competitive; somewhat ironically I have been trying to find a way to get a journalism internship with Dazed & Confused, in which you recently published your 'Lost Generation' feature. How would I apply to Dazed for an internship (God Forbid)?

Darren8 , Writer , 24/01/13 , 115 AP
- Report
c6f17df5-d667-4ec5-a204-a150014ca361

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