<p>Hey I made this account because I feel a bit trapped and stuck...</p>
<p>I'm a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student at a UC and I recently got offered an unpaid internship with a small, growing engineering firm. I am also still awaiting an offer from a paid internship I interviewed for two weeks ago (their reply should come this week according to them). I've been reading college confidential posts and different research conclusions about unpaid internships. According to an article I read earlier, the percentage of engineering students that have had unpaid internships are almost as likely to get a full-time job as engineering students who've had no internships at all? </p>
<p>The thing is, I am also financially struggling and I pretty much have to pay for my tuition a lone. I work about 35 hours at Target every week and about 10-15 hours as a Web Developer at my school just to pay off my living expenses and bills. If I take the unpaid internship, I'll quit Target hoping to get experience in the engineering field for longer-term goals. </p>
<p>I was wondering what you guys think about the situation? Should I take the unpaid internship because its very difficult to find any internships now-a-days? Or should I not take it in hopes that I get interviews and offers from paid internships? </p>
<p>I've also been reading that unpaid engineering internships are illegal somehow? (correct me if I'm wrong) That if I do actual engineering work it's illegal? The job description says it's gonna have me pretty much doing a bunch of different engineering assignments for different companies. I am in a state of not knowing what to do and worried for the future so any input would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Talk to your career center about the legal issues surrounding unpaid internships. </p>
<p>But, this is the internet and I might as well give you my opinion - My understanding is that an unpaid internship should be for the benefit of the student (i.e. a chance to learn). If you are doing work that directly produces income for the company, it is less clear. That’s what prompted the lawsuits a while back - interns were basically treated like employees and there was no real learning. </p>
<p>Personally, I think this engineering firm is just being a cheapskate. It sounds like they have customers that need work done. I am sure the firm does not work for free. They should be able to pay you something, even if it is on the low end of the scale. My son is also an engineering student and I would tell him to walk away from the unpaid position, or at least call their bluff by telling them how much you want to get paid.</p>
<p>If it’s unpaid, there is no way I would recommend that you work at full-time schedule at this place. Agree on a set number of hours that will allow you to spend time looking for a permanent job.</p>
<p>Have you asked them for pay? It seems to me that unpaid is ridiculous for a 4th year.</p>
<p>Some schools (I think Northwestern U & MIT) have policies on this in their career services website (under “for employers”). If not those, look at others. Do a bit of research. If you need to get paid, I would keep looking. Internships are placed through about March (I am assuming for the summer). Talk to career services and super-charge your search. Also, profs often have relationships with companies that they can leverage. They have to have a good opinion of you, and you have to ask.</p>
<p>I thought about what you guys said and ended up turned down the offer explaining the situation and how I needed some compensation at least but they never responded. Thanks for the perspectives everyone. I’ll keep trying for a paid one. </p>
<p>Often the company itself values a paid intern more than an unpaid intern and will give more meaningful assignments to a paid intern. Think about it- if your choice is an unpaid internship and it is not rocket-fueled, wouldn’t you be better off defining for yourself an amazing project and putting up a website to thoroughly explain it? If you are a “robot wizard” you might even have hardware to demonstrate at the end of it. You could even think farther afield- set up a Kickstart campaign in the spring to fund said project and make several copies of whatever you develop; then sell them on eBay (or take them to Burning Man, or both) after shipping those committed to the Kickstarter campaign.</p>
<p>Just working for a company is obviously less overall effort, but do think of alternatives that would be educational and personally rewarding. This is a great time to enjoy life. Make your own rules. Other people’s rules are great, IFF they have better payoff (risk/reward, effort, leveraged progress, etc.).</p>
<p>You made the right decision.</p>
<p>my friend majors in same major as you. we’re in CC. He took several autocad, drafting courses then put his resume up on career builders. He was actually hired as a drafter, get pay $16/hour. He didn’t have any experience, only few courses at school. Idk if it’s the range you look for or it gonna apply to your situation but i think it’ll definitely build good experience. </p>
<p>oh btw, in my company, an IT servicing one half of our teams are engineering students ( computer, bio, chem, electronics…) some are seniors student too. the work they do definitely don’t do anything w the major, but the key is to have some related-experiences to get for better position later. as long as it relates to tech/engineering field. </p>