How do you negotiate pay for an internship?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>There's an internship with the state government that I want to be a part of but they have very few paid positions at minimum wage and look to students who are willing to volunteer first. I already have extensive paid internship experience and have two other offers for the fall semester. </p>

<p>The governor's office requires 20 hours a week which I can't do with another part-time job and I can't afford to have a non-paying job. Is there anything I can do to make sure I get one of those paid positions or negotiate a stipend or something?</p>

2

<p>Normally I’d say you’d be able to negotiate a small stipend for unpaid internships – but that just is not the case in local/state/federal internships. Governor’s offices as well as Congress people just do not pay their interns, no matter how qualified they are.</p>

<p>They know that at the end of the day, they’ll be able to get someone willing to do work for free. I’d say just try for one of the minimum wage internships, and if you don’t get it – look for something else knowing you have extensive experience for your resume.</p>