Are some companies taking advantage of student interns??
I've intern with these scums before and as an artist, I realized that some of these companies can't afford you so they'd use the same old line to get you to be their slave. After finishing one project, I was rushed to another. For about 4 months I was sucked out of my time, energy, talent and money. I was never reimbursed for my art supplies nor gas.I got nada back. After finishing up the final project I was left with nothing but the feeling of being used. All my original artwork was taken away (thanks to the contract I signed). I was pissed and fed up.
If I'm not mistaken, the reason for interning was to gain experience (which I never got). The Director was a total prick and totally unprofessional. And if you're wondering the company's name is XZAULT MEDIA. Be careful you guys!
Answer:
Yes, interns tend to get all the grunt work, but you should not have been treated the way you were. If I'm not mistaken, recent labor laws (state? federal?) require that interns either:
a) get paid the minimum hourly wage or
b) get class credit
There should never be any work for nothing in return. Now, regarding them taking your original artwork. Any company you work for (whether it's intern, consultant, part-time or full-time), whatever work you produce on company time becomes the intellectual property rights of that company. Unfortunately, that's just how it is in business.
I'm sorry that your internship left a bad taste. Truly, internships are meant to be learning experiences, as it will help build your resume so that it opens doors for you to get that first real job. But it is not meant to be slave labor. Check with your local employment office and inform them of your experience. Perhaps they can give you some guidance on what to do.
Then why did you stay so long? If they kept your work, you must have gotten experience. Remember, it's a two-way street. If you did not feel that you were getting your fair share in the agreement, then you should have quit and moved on.
Yes. But if you are in a competitive profession and want an internship with a VERY good company you will almost HAVE to do this. In the long term, I think it is probably worth it. It will help you get a first job. That said, there ARE lots of paid internships out there. Only take the unpaid one if it is with a VERY prestigious company. (or if you don't have any other choices)
I don't see how you say you didn't get experience. You did quite a number of different functions for them durnig that time. That is experience. Or do you mean you didn't get training?
Basically, interns exist to be taken advantage of by companies. The companies will suck all the interns' ideas, energy, time, etc., because they're cheap labor. It goes two ways, however. If the intern hired by the company is good and dedicated in his work, then the company benefits tremendously -- they get an intern who has both brains and responsibility. But if the intern hired happens to be the kind who doesn't know how to work and slack off most of the time, then the company stands to lose out. But mostly the company won't lose out because most interns are paid peanuts' allowance compared to permanent staff.
The expeience gained while being an intern differs significantly from company to company. I know because I personally have been an intern TWICE. Yeah, I blame it on the stupid education system in my country. I guess I've been lucky because both times I managed to pick up a lot of experience although I had to work my * off for both companies. My first internship was with an accounting firm which was medium-sized, and my second internship was with a larger accounting firm.
There are two types of workers in this world -- those who value experiences gained over monetary compensation, and those who believe that monetary compensation should be equal to the work done. The former workers are willing to work harder and push themselves more in order to gain experience, whilst the latter workers won't work the extra mile if there's no proverbial carrot at the end of the stick.
I believe that every fresh graduate starts as the former group, gradually deteriorating into the latter group. I know I am one of those graduates. I used to think that experience proves useful and that employers valued experience, but now I know that apple-polishing and * kissing gets you farther than experience alone.
Reality sucks.
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