Internship Update

Due to the frequency of 'internships' offered on Planet College an entry was made here.

This is an update.

Opportunities for "interns" appear often on flyers distributed around most campuses, in job listings in the campus newspaper and on many on line job boards. This term has often been interpreted to indicate "unpaid", the implication being the intern will be compensated in experience. This interpretation is seriously incorrect. Because this term has become so widely misinterpreted The State of California has issued a directive which outlines the conditions under which a worker may be termed an "intern." The New York Times published an article concerning this directive and you may read it here. If you are considering an internship please read it carefully. Of course, the definitions and conditions for an internship will vary from state to state and it is smart for you to check out your state's requirements for this classification. This is to assure you are not simply being exploited. Essentially the consensus is an intern must be compensated by some means for their efforts.

Becoming an intern in the industry in which you intend to work can be a useful opportunity for you. It helps to know, though, that you are not just unpaid labor.