Is My Unpaid Internship Fair?

It’s a question many young people ask. Well, unfortunately, there is no clear answer.

Every case is different and it is up to you to evaluate your situation and figure out if you are getting a fair shake. As you do this, there are a few things to take into consideration.

1. Are you getting anything out of the internship?

Are you just getting coffee and making copies of paper? Or are you actually learning and getting behind the scenes insight into your chosen industry? Calculating this one comes down to how much you value the work you’re doing and whether the skills you’re gaining are (literally) priceless.

2. How long is the internship?

Most people tend to enter an internship after high school or university, as they try to make their debut into their chosen industry. So, think: How long is your internship? Is it one month? Three months? Six months? Open-ended? Most internships tend to last about three months. If you are in an internship and you have been working without pay for a long period of time, you should re-evaluate your situation.

3. Can you afford it?

Money can be a big factor as to whether or not you take up an internship or not, and that's okay. If you cannot afford to be working for free, start looking at other pathways to get into the industry, or take up a part-time job to pay the bills while you're still in your internship.

4. Are you really an intern?

As the Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman puts it, “An employment contract can arise even where the parties call the arrangement something else, say it is not employment, or if a person agrees not to be paid wages for work they do.” There are several important indicators to consider (such as, if you’re doing work that the business would do otherwise, how long you’ve been an intern, and whether or not you’re observing and gaining benefit from the learning arrangement). Remember, sometimes just talking to your employer and understanding the true nature of your relationship can go a long way.

Congratulations to Marylyn for winning this week's writing challenge: Are Unpaid Internships Fair? Marylyn wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

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