If you’re anything like me, you know that the steady arrival of summer brings a lot of changes: hot weather, the end of school, blockbuster movies, and of course the mad scramble for summer jobs and internships. It can be ridiculously nerve-wracking hearing about how that girl who sits next to you in Lit just landed her dream internship – and you’re not even completely sure what a cover letter is. While it’s tempting to just to put off the search for another season and settle into a comfortable rhythm of hanging out with friends in the summer heat and settling for some throwaway job at the local burger joint, at some point you’ve got to join the cut-throat, highly caffeinated rat race.
But hold on right there. Some of you (particularly those Emerson College Collegiates) should look out for a major roadblock ahead. Beware the following damning words: “For credit only.” Now that the federal government is looking into internship programs and their compliance with labor laws, more and more employers are requiring that college students receive college credit for their internships. What sounds like a great deal causes a lot of problems, especially for students who go to schools that don’t offer off-campus credit or students who would benefit more from a paid position.
Employers have always been sneaky about paying their interns, in the past offering no pay and no credit. However, due to investigation from the US Department of Labor, it was pointed out that the system was a violation of human rights because the uncompensated interns were, essentially, slaves. New criteria prompted the employers to avoid the issue of pay once again by offering college credit, which therefore qualifies interns as legally unpaid trainees. It’s not a favorable system for most students or colleges, who feel pressured to provide credit for jobs they can’t be sure have academic merit.
Many schools have tried to adapt to the new rules by instituting new screening systems to make sure that the employers are providing the students with a worthwhile educational experience. Some are requiring a written job description from the employer or a description of tasks and achievements from the students. Colleges don’t want to give credit to a student for answering phones two hours a day, but they also don’t want to sever ties with valuable employers who simply don’t want to spend the $8.00 an hour on an intern.
It’s a tough issue for internship-hunters, especially at a college like Emerson where Visual and Media Arts majors must use all their credits during the LA program (should they wish to go), which doesn’t usually fall until senior year. As a VMA major searching for a decent gig, it’s maddening to find that the biggest and most respected companies simply won’t even accept my application knowing I can’t receive college credit. They either don’t want to pay me or don’t want to get in trouble for not giving me anything (which, frankly, at this point I would be fine with). Sorry kid, see you senior year.
For all non-VMAers out there, Emerson only allows 8 credits for internships, translating to roughly two internships. But if you apply for a third internship (and this is the Big Kahuna, your dream job), and they require credit, you’re just out of luck.
The most hope I can offer is that there are a still a few internships out there (mostly small, local businesses or startups) who don’t require credit. Also, some of the more prestigious public companies are willing to take on interns without credit – however, you legally must be referred to as a “volunteer” which can be tricky on a resume. Some crafty students have found ways to work the system, exploiting the fact that several of these businesses will also accept an “independent study program.” They either get a teacher or advisor to write a letter approving a non-existent independent study program, or enroll in one from a neighboring community college. Keep in mind, enrolling in summer programs and community colleges to sneak in extra credits gets expensive quickly and remember, you’re already not getting paid.
So yes, it’s pretty uncool that these awesome experiences are out of reach because corporations have found yet another loophole to save money. But as any Collegiate knows, perseverance is the key to success. Just keep putting your name out there and fight for every opportunity. Maybe even find your own loophole. And when you get to be an employer someday – pay your damn interns!