The Problem With Unpaid Internships

We all know the archetype of the unpaid intern. They spend their days getting coffee and doing the work no one wants to do, while receiving little to no recognition from full-time staff. This is justified as a means of ‘getting a foot in the door’ and gaining industry experience that will hopefully lead to a successful career. But in critically thinking about unpaid internships, we can see that they are out of date and exploitative.

Unpaid internships are illegal in Canada, but this does not apply to students who are completing internships to receive academic credits. The problem with unpaid internships among students is that those who are less financially stable simply don’t have the flexibility to spend their summer volunteering with an organization that they are passionate about. This creates a system that favours students with generational wealth and economic stability, while alienating those from less fortunate backgrounds. In order to create spaces where young people can have a tangible impact on the conditions they live in, and for organizations to intentionally include diverse youth perspectives in their practices and work, internships need to be made accessible for youth of all demographics.

The barriers youth face in accessing internship opportunities

Youth are often seen as a monolithic group, but this isn’t the reality. Young people today are arguably the most diverse population in Canada. Recognizing the intersecting identities of youth is the first step in understanding how our lived experiences impact our ability to engage in society, starting with internships. 

The story of the unpaid, overworked intern is common — it is not just small, start up businesses that hire unpaid interns, it is also large-scale organizations who have the resources to pay, like corporations and government institutions. An organization that provides only unpaid internships will continually attract the same type of people: those with the economic privileges to take on unpaid work. By this measure, it is the wealthiest students who work in these roles. To diversify youth engagement and outreach internally, organizations should always consider students from broader backgrounds. Paid internship opportunities are crucial to create safe engagement spaces for youth from marginalized communities, such as those who are Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ2IS+, disabled and from other racialized groups. 

Interns are young, lacking in experience and often seen as powerless. This makes them vulnerable to exploitative working conditions. As interns, youth are less likely to voice their concerns out of fear of jeopardizing any future opportunities. If you want to meaningfully engage youth, there are some steps you can take to improve their experiences within your organization. 

Here are some tips on how to provide ethical internships.

1. Pay them.

2. Manage your expectations.

Remember that you’re hiring an intern, not a full-time staff member. As much as they are here to help you, they’re also here to learn from you. Bombarding them with an overwhelming amount of work without giving them the opportunity to ask questions and learn will prevent them from reaching their full potential. Conversely, not giving the intern substantial work will impede them from learning anything valuable. In order to strike the right balance in expectations, analyze the profile of the intern. Take into consideration what program and year they’re in, what their current course load looks like and what skills they’ve developed in school. With this in mind,  relate it back to the job posting and how you can tailor your internship to help them do their best. 

3. Give them a variety of tasks.

In many fields, it’s become the norm to pass on the less pleasant tasks to the intern. Though some of these tedious tasks are essential, by varying their assignments and giving them more responsibilities where possible, you demonstrate to your intern that you want to provide them with learning opportunities, which they will appreciate. Meaningful youth engagement happens when you create space for youth to have empowering roles. 

4. Check-in.

Touch base with your intern, perhaps through weekly coffee chats, and ask them how they’re doing. What tasks are they enjoying? Where do they feel most challenged? What areas do they want to explore? See where you can accommodate them; this will not only help them learn and excel in the role, but will foster a better relationship between the intern and your organization. Take a genuine interest in their aspirations and plans for the future, and see where you can serve as a mentor. Recognize how the work the intern is doing impacts your organization’s mission and how it fits into the big picture. By acknowledging this and communicating it with them, it will provide them with a sense of belonging and purpose within your organization.

5. Involve them.

Create a space where your intern feels safe to provide ongoing feedback to your organization. Value their feedback by implementing recommendations in tangible ways, such as through new initiatives or existing projects. Involve them in the planning processes; make their ideas and pitches feel valued and show that you take their participation seriously.

Remember

Young interns matter. They represent youth perspectives, and by valuing them, you demonstrate that you value what young people have to contribute to your work.

When young people are treated as worthy in an organization, it not only inspires us to want to continue working with you, but empowers us with the confidence to succeed in our future goals, career or otherwise. When meaningfully engaged by organizations and institutions of power, we feel that we have something to contribute, and that our voice matters. Our likelihood to participate in democracy — whether that’s voting, campaigning, or even running for office — all stem from our interactions with those in positions of power. 

Once you’ve made space for diverse youth through ethical internships, continue to ask yourself how you can make these spaces meaningful avenues for youth empowerment. By providing youth with responsibility along with a sense of access and control, you instill us with confidence in our abilities. Going forward, this type of confidence equips young people to be eager for democratic involvement, innovation and leadership.