By getting paid, I mean I got reimbursed for parking at the downtown Asheville parking garage next to WNC Magazine's office. Still, I'd like to pretend that the meager 40ish dollars is an income. I worked 20 hours a week in exchange for free downtown parking while I work for no salary.
Though magazine internships are glamorous, at least to me, there comes a point when you question the purpose of your labor. For me, this happened last weekend when I was talking about how I don't take a lunch break and my friends responded, "Wait, this is unpaid right? So why are you taking this so seriously?"
Well, I take this seriously partly because it is a job like any other job, and I feel a sort of moral obligation to perform the tasks assigned to me. Most of all, however, I want this internship to be an experience that I, along with WNC Magazine, benefit from.
But how do you stay focused and on task when you aren't getting paid? Here are some tips that I find applicable to any unpaid internship:
1. Be on time. I'm scared to start the slippery slope of coming in to work a couple minutes late, because I know that it could eventually become 30 minutes. It isn't the job of Denise (my boss) to remind me to be on time, she has better things to do. It seems like there are no repercussions, but I try to think of how my timeliness will impact her overall impression of me. This leads to my next tip:
2. Remember your goal. You aren't here to get paid, but you want to get paid eventually. And that will only happen if you commit to being a good intern, one that gets a good reference when applying for a more significant job.
3. Don't forget about minimal tasks. If Denise gives me a more important project to do, like working on a page layout or creating a graphic, it's easy to ignore the smaller tasks that I can still help out with. This includes answering the phone, a job that the staff at WNC is incredibly grateful for.
4. Keep reading the magazine. You had to be familiar with it to score the internship, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. To avoid embarrassing communication mishaps, stay familiar with the sections and styles of the magazine. This is a great way to spend time at an unpaid internship, because you basically get to read magazines and call it work!
Good luck to everyone working this summer,
Brittain
These are good points. I had a similar situation last summer. It's definitely tough if you don't have the right mindset/end goal. For my position, I created a very comprehensive training manual (totally voluntary, primarily about Photoshop) that they now give to interns on the first day. Make a lasting impression in any way you can.
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