Weather Alert in Winnebago, Will, Ogle, McHenry, Lee, La Salle, Lake, Kendall, Kankakee, Kane, Grundy, DuPage, DeKalb, Cook and Boone counties.
August 18

Learn to put unpaid internships to work

Internships are a critical way for college students to bolster their resumes and compete in today's tough job market. Getting a paycheck at the same time may seem like a fringe benefit.

But as it turns out, that paycheck can make a big difference in your chances of getting hired after graduation.

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2011 graduates who had done a paid internship were more likely to receive a job offer after school than classmates who did an unpaid internship.

As a matter of fact, the survey said, "the unpaid internship offers no advantage to the job-seeking student." Others disagree, but more on that later.

One possible reason for the difference between the two groups is that students in paid internships reported spending more time on professional tasks (as opposed to, say, filing) than those who worked gratis.

As a result, "Employers may assume that an unpaid internship has less to do with developing professional expertise than a paid internship does," said Edwin Koc, the author of the study.

Trouble is, based on the survey, only about half of internships are paid. So what is a college intern to do?

Consider your industry

Keep in mind that paid internships are not the norm in every field.

"Media tends not to pay," said Geoff Falen, director and prelaw adviser at Colorado College's career center. "Neither does advertising, and employers know this."

In other industries, paid internships are more typical.

In accounting, for example, more than 75 percent of internships are paid, and in engineering more than 80 percent come with a paycheck, said Phil Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University.

What's more, many of those internships are feeder programs for a full-time position.

They are the main gateway to a job, and perhaps one reason why students with paid gigs are more likely to leave school with a job offer in hand.

Validate your experience

College career advisers argue that paid internships have a better reputation.

"There's a sense that people tend to work a little harder and take it more seriously if it's a full-time, paid gig," Falen said.

Employers may also assume you're getting more relevant experience at a paid internship.

"There's a psychological hang-up: Were you really working or just making copies?" said Subhash Risbud, director of the internship and career center at the University of California at Davis.

If an unpaid internship is your only option, don't despair. You have ways to prove the worth of your experience.

One option is to get academic credit for your work, which suggests the internship was about more than just fetching coffee.

When applying for a job, highlight in your resume and cover letter the skills you learned. Also, if you need a letter of recommendation, remind your former boss of a few of your accomplishments as an intern.

"The more specific you can be, the better able a supervisor can talk about the value of your contribution," said Colorado College's Falen.

Start the hunt early

In the end, gaining experience in your desired field, paid or not, is better than doing nothing at all.

"An internship is key to career preparation and success in job hunting," said Randall Hansen, publisher of Quintessential Careers.

Just don't delay: For summer internships, employers begin to hire now through early spring, and paid internships can fill up quickly.

"Start doing your research now," Risbud said.

Email Carolyn Bigda at

Copyright © 2019, Chicago Tribune