<p>So, I was offered a position at a family owned (and named) business. The boss told me he was offering me an "internship". So, I am wondering, (because I would like to put the job on my resume and the job pertains to what I plan to study in college) am I being scammed into "volunteering"/free labor because my boss is too cheap to pay someone to do tedious tasks, or is it a legit job?</p>
<p>What kind of business is it?</p>
<p>Some internships don’t involve compensation. At my internship, I’m doing a lot of the dirty work, but I’m getting exposed to new and different things. It’ll help to know what job you’re doing.</p>
<p>law office. The office is pretty small and only known by the people that flank the neighborhood, but it busy.</p>
<p>I am essentially the one man gang. My boss usually only comes in to work for about two a day while I am there the whole eight hour shift. I answer calls, speak with clients, fax, make copies, organize and only call my boss when I don’t know what to do…</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re being scammed. You’re getting experience in your chosen field, which will look good on apps :)</p>
<p>just my $.02</p>
<p>Oh cool, If I were you I wouldn’t complain. You don’t HAVE to get paid. It all depends how many hours you’re working, how many days a week etc. I would talk to the boss for more information.</p>
<p>I am not complaining about the money. I know that I am young and no one will pay me much. The tone set in the op is weird…</p>
<p>I am just wondering how the name/size of the business will be seen. So, in essence, would I be better off volunteering at a “hot-shot” downtown firm"? Or are both places on par</p>
<p>Sounds more to me like you’re being taken advantage of.</p>
<p>Filing papers and sending faxes doesn’t sound like a very fulfilling internship.</p>
<p>Most college admissions officers will have no idea of any law firm you have an internship at. It is just the experience that matters to them. Merely listing you had an internship somewhere will not affect your app at all. It’s the story you can tell about what you learned and how it has affected your career choices that you want to put in an app.</p>
<p>^ true.
I also think that what dfree said is true. I do not mind that I am interning, I just feel like I am being taken advantage of. my boss is a horse’s [some place where his sun does not shine]; Always making sadistic, sarcastic comments; thinks that my time is not important (I would rather study for the SAT); getting mad at me when I want water.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like that’s just like any other internship. Yes, you’re being exploited for free labor, but it’ll be beneficial to you as well in terms of your resume.</p>
<p>Law offices are not allowed to hire unpaid interns unless they are doing something substantive not like stacking boxes or making copies</p>
<p>^ I have A LOTTT of busy work…</p>
<p>You have an internship. Just be happy someone offered you any sort of thing to keep you preoccupied. In this economy, it’s extremely difficult to even get base line work. So what if you get busy work? Yes, it will look good for college. Be happy that someone’s willing to take in a high school student to get some of his/her filing done. You could be sitting your butt on the couch, not being productive at all this whole summer.</p>
<p>I think you’re being taken advantage of. An internship is supposed to be a win/win i.e. the student may not be paid, but is trained in something, while the owner/manager gains productivity and doesn’t have to pay for it. An internship is * not, * however, a place where you go do menial work for no pay (for the record, I’ve had three internships. One was unpaid, and I learned a lot. One is paid (above minimum wage), and it’s mostly busy work. The third provides a stipend (below minimum wage when you work out the hours) but I am learning a lot).</p>
<p>But at this point, you have three options:
- Deal with it. You’re already in it. You won’t be able to find anything else this summer.
- Talk to your boss about money. This may result in firing/a bad letter of rec, because not all people are rational, but it could also go well. Or he could just shrug it off. Only you can really tell whether he will take it well and if it’s worth the risk.
- Quit. Though if you’re going to go this route, you might as well talk to him about money anyway.</p>
<p>My mom is a lawyer and if all you’re doing is busy work and you’re not getting paid, it is technically against the law. You have to be doing something substantive for it to be legal</p>
<p>“getting mad at me when I want water.”</p>
<p>Whu…?!</p>
<p>I vote leave.</p>
<p>Lol I didn’t see the “getting mad at me for wanting water” part… </p>
<p>If the guy is really that much of a jerk, then I wouldn’t do the internship. If you think it’s worth doing that work for 8 hours and no pay, then do it! It seems like you have a lot that you would be doing, and I would like that. The only times I hate working is when there’s nothing to do.</p>