Applying for jobs with only your degree as proof of your employability no longer cuts the mustard, as graduate competition for jobs becomes increasingly fierce. Internships have become a necessary tool for getting your foot through the door of your desired job. The difficulties in the jobs market means many graduates are happy to take on unpaid internships.<br/><br/>According to OnlineCollegeCourses.com, these unpaid internships are not as beneficial to the individual as internships in which compensation is offered. The website reports that studies reveal students who complete internships without being paid earn less, are given more menial tasks to perform and are hired as full time employees at a lesser rate than students who complete paid internships. OnlineCollegeCourses.com have revealed that in the US, 61% paid interns receive a job offer, compared to just 38% of unpaid interns. The average starting salary for paid interns is $51,511, whereas for interns it stands at $33,719.<br/><br/>The problem of the illegality of unpaid internships has also hit the UK, with growing concerns that graduates from less economically well off families will be a disadvantage with regards to their fellow graduates, whose families may be able to support them through unpaid internships. The law states that anyone who is 'working' must be paid the national minimum wage, however some interns will complete placements of over six months and receive not financial incentives.<br/><br/>The National Council for Work Experience express in their guidelines that internships should be considered only if the placement provides continual chances for gaining useful contacts and training opportunities. The Council also encourages interns to discuss the possibility of paid work with the company, and if the line between work experience and exploitation is crossed then you should cease to continue the placement.<br/><br/>The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggests in their guidelines, Internships that Work, that interns should be allowed time off work to attend job interviews and should be allocated a mentor to ensure their placement is productive. A minimum of reasonable travel expenses should be covered, and an intern's entitlement to the National Minimum Wage should be based on the work itself, and not on whether the work is called a 'job' or 'internship'. Interns should also be given a reference letter at the end of their placement.<br/><br/>Before taking an unpaid internship, it is useful to consult these documents and measure the benefits of the internship against the sacrifices you may have to endure as a result of not being paid. It may help you to think of an unpaid internship as an investment in your future, however it is important to be constantly aware of the direction the internship is heading in, and whether it is an investment that will pay off.<br/>
