3/19/13
English 28
Internships
In “ No Pay? Many Interns Say, (No Problem)” by Jennifer Halperin and “Take This Internship and shove it” by Anya Kamenetz both write about pros and cons of unpaid internships. Halperin argues that lack of intern pay doesn’t seem to dissuade students from applying to many of these internships, particularly ones that offer the chance to gain useful professional skills and experience. Kamenetz, on the other hand , argues that unpaid internships do not have long term value to the students. The essay by Halperin is far more convincing due to the facts and reasons she refers to in her essay
Halperin believes that internships here focus on giving students ideas about how and where to pursue job opportunities, and to encourage people to think creatively about these “practice” work experiences. Halperin wants us to believe that unpaid internships are totally worth the hours one puts in and the hard work. Halperin states, “[L]ocation and intern duties play just as large a role in luring students to apply “(588). This article is interesting because it consists almost entirely of the results of an informal survey. As recent and about to be graduates know all pros and cons of the unpaid internships from their personal experience, in my opinion, their arguments are persuasive. Halperin argues, “The value of internships can’t be calculated in solely financial terms “(590). Indeed unpaid give you a chance to gain useful experience that can’t be learnt in a classroom. Moreover, as an intern, you have a chance to meet people who are professionals in your field, and it’s a great way to network. In addition, many interns are getting hired on to staff. However, internships shouldn’t be seen only as opportunities to be hired in the place where one interns. Experience, a test-drive of a career and connections are much more important.
The essay by Anya Kamentez seems less convincing to me, I don’t agree with Kamentez arguing about