Like many others, I have recently been bombarded by talk of summer internships.
Whether it be LinkedIn notifications announcing jobs, emails from McGill, or buzz from students, nearly everyone is considering what their summer may hold. Internships offer real-world experience, boost resumes, and allow for the possibility of a return offer post-graduation. Issues beyond competition, however, run deep in the world of internships.
Internships are invaluable to ensuring success post-graduation. “Many fields increasingly expect some form of hands-on experience before graduation,” said Arts Internship Office (AIO) Program Manager Jade Perraud Le Bouter. A LinkedIn study found that students with internship experience were “22.9% more likely to start a full-time position within six months of their graduation.” The AIO has been “hearing more anxiety about the post-graduation job market”, according to Perraud Le Bouter, which makes internships particularly valuable for easing those concerns.
Unpaid internships present equity issues, allowing some students to acquire experience while others can’t afford to spend a summer without an income.
This barrier is massively problematic and should not be a factor that students have to consider.
According to data from the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions (CCWT) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, roughly 30% of interns in the US go unpaid, and 67.3% of students who never had an internship wanted one, but faced obstacles like the need for a paid job.
There is also a concerning disparity in the number of students securing paid internships. The National Survey of College Internships (NSCI) found that 45.7% of female internships were unpaid, compared to just 24.1% of males, and only 13% of black students and 14.2% of Hispanic students have had internships, compared to an estimated 23.6% of white students.
Unpaid internships serve as barriers to entry into the workforce for many first-generation and low-income students. NSCI described the phenomenon as a “discriminatory gatekeeping function that exacerbates inequality.”
Most companies prioritize industry experience over grades, making internships highly sought after, yet only students with enough financial privilege can afford to take on unpaid roles. This perpetuates the inequalities present in many industries, indicating a ripple effect as a result of internship barriers.
The pandemic had a lasting impact on internships, with fewer internationally based positions and more hybrid or remote options. “The interest in international opportunities is coming back, but these opportunities are harder to support now due to rising costs, visa complexity, and geopolitical uncertainty,” said Perraud Le Bouter.
McGill, like many universities, provides resources for students to find internships and has built connections with institutions within Montréal and all over the world. AIO postings are always growing, as professors and past interns add to the list of relationships with host institutions and partners. McGill’s resources offer a smaller pool of applicants and attempt to limit the competitiveness of the internship market. “We sometimes hear that students hesitate to apply because they assume an opportunity is ‘too competitive’, while in reality the numbers fluctuate from year to year and selection is very much based on fit, genuine interest, and relevant skills,” said Perraud Le Bouter.
The AIO also offers support to students looking for internships on their own. “We offer ongoing advising, information sessions, workshops throughout the year, as well as in-person events and our Arts Internship Mentorship Initiative established with AUS in 2019,” said Perraud Le Bouter. The AIO also works closely with McGill’s Career Planning Service, which offers many internship opportunities through myFuture.
AIO offers funding for students with unpaid internships or to augment travel and housing costs during summer internships. “The question of equity and accessibility has always been central to our work,” said Perraud Le Bouter. “The Faculty of Arts Internship Awards were established in 2004 specifically to support Arts students who historically have had fewer paid internship opportunities than students in more professionally structured programs.” Students, however, can only apply for funding if they have already secured a position. This caveat could put students in a precarious position of having an unpaid internship lined up that they need funding for, but not yet knowing if they will receive funding from McGill.
While the Awards program is a valuable resource, it does not ensure that students can confidently apply for unpaid positions, leaving low-income students in a precarious position.
Summer internships are competitive, but there’s more to it; unpaid internships and unreliable funding prevent many low-income students from taking the opportunity to enter the workforce before graduation, leaving students with prior connections with an advantage.
