Trawling through my Twitter Feed today I happened across Seventeen SA Ed Janine and Cosmopolitan SA Ed Sbu discussing paid and unpaid internships. It got me thinking, what would Tarryn do? (If I had to start all over...)
Having been lucky enough to experience both ends of the stick I can say that honestly, I'd choose paid! There are obvious reasons, but for me it's the not-so-obvious reasons that colour my judgement and choice...
1) Paid Interns (I'm going to call us P.I's - just 'cos it sounds cool - I'm not lazy to type on a Friday afternoon at all [Sarcasm Sign]) - P.I's get more responsibilities...
- There is a feeling of an actual investment in you that expects a certain return... You aren't just some Kippie doing any-old-odd job someone else doesn't want to do. (Disclaimer: MOST of the time... Exceptions come at 4.31pm onwards)
2) P.I's have more incentive to be enthusiastic, creative, helpful, passionate (those good adjectives)
- When you feel you are doing something recognizable and reward-able you are inspired to do your best in all your tasks - e-mails to the worst person in the world included.
3) P.I's learn adult skills (budgeting)
My savings account now smiles at me every month - instead of shooting daggers at me (Daggers -> minus signs)
4) P.I's adjust better
I've only been an intern for 6 months & 8 days but people think I've been here over a year and therefore, know all the stories, scandal and skinner from the last Christmas party...
5) You get to buy work clothes!
And sometimes your mom still irons them...
My unpaid internships weren't terrible though, one of them was even at Seventeen (way back in 2007 when I was about to turn 17! - Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed and Un-clipped Wings with dreams of World Peace and the death of Crocs).
I guess I was lucky to have mentors that really wanted to teach me the ways of the world of media ( & THAT made all the difference!) Although those "job-shadows" were only about 2 weeks of Spring break, I still look at them as the most enriching learning experiences of my life (2nd only to reality TV teaching me to make clafouti - I haven't made it yet - cherries & pancake batter - what could go wrong? [this isn't a challenge Murphy])
Chatting to my fellow interns at lunch we came to a conclusion: The benefits of an internship well done is what you learn by actually doing, the experience that you gain can be priceless.
Interning is the best way to gain exposure to the REAL world before you commit to anything as daunting as bonds, taxes and life... You have to choose what would be best for you and be strong and willing to stick to your guns no matter what!
Me? I decided the day Graca Machel tapped me on the head that I would not let 15 years of hard-work, all-nighters and thousands of Rands result in me making coffee and photocopies for hours on end!
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| What you get when you Google "Intern" |
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