Thoughts on Internships and Value

[Anonymous]

My DS was just offered the internship of his dreams with a pro-sports team. It's unpaid and he'd have to move to another city (where he has some acquaintances from college but somewhere we don't know well). Basically, we'd have to fund his summer but he is certain it is the right step to take on his way to his ultimate goal (sports/team management - I don't know the exact language for it). His dad is grumpy about it, as he thought that, if he wasn't going to accept a solid, traditional business internship, then at least he could get paid.

He had a low paying internship last year (which really did give him the goods to leap into an externship/paid gig at school this year, which led to this pro-sports internship offer) but it covered room and board. I helped ease it over with DH at that time because DS was only a sophomore and there was still hope on the horizon for dad's dream of him pounding it out in a tall building in our city's financial district during his junior year summer. Well, in all honesty, DS has no desire to be in a traditional business setting and sports are his thing (note: he is majoring in finance and minoring in stats - we did hold fast on not paying for a general sports management degree).

We can cover his room and board, but he's going to have to quit the take out game and learn to manage living more economically on his own (or with roommates, as some of his friends and he are thinking about getting a place together). The question is: SHOULD WE? I am prone to thinking that we should, as we only get a shot at our dreams when we're young. My husband thinks that DS just doesn't know what he doesn't know about the traditional business world and that he would like it once he had a chance to see what it's all about. He thought this summer would be a turning point. But, in all honesty, I don't necessarily think that DH is against the offered internship itself, rather the real issue is that DS would be gone for the summer and we'd be funding his lifestyle.

So, what say you DCUM? Would you agree to support this endeavor?

[Anonymous]

Of course you should. I got opportunities I would not have otherwise just out of college because my parents helped me for a few years. That experience and connections paved the way for my entire career.

[Anonymous]

What national level sports organization has the gall to offer an unpaid internship?! That’s crap. If it’s his dream internship and he can parlay into an offer or line himself up to a great role at graduation then I guess do it OP. I just question the culture and values of an organization that cannot eek out even 7k (!!!) out of its payroll to give a kid a moderate salary for the summer. For comparison my DD is lining up her third paid internship for this summer. The last one gave her a wage, a sign on, a stipend and corporate housing. That’s the distance between your sons offer and what others are getting.

[Anonymous]

I say take it. There were really only a few times in life when unpaid internships are valuable things but when you’re in college and they are in your dream career, they should be jumped on. I don’t know anything about the industry but I would assume these are highly competitive and if he turns it down there are hundreds and hundreds of other People who would gladly grab it. My DD had two amazing unpaid internships summer. She was able to get grant funding from her school so that she was “paid” but she never would’ve had those experiences she had to focus primarily on something that gave her a salary.

[Anonymous]

Yes, because it's such a niche field you should try to support it. I have a friend that just took a big pay cut to take a job as a sports psychologist for a Division 1 school to get their foot in the door. These types of jobs are few and far between. I'm sure an internship will go a long way in resume building and making connections.

[Anonymous]

This sounds bogus to me. The team is not a charity. I believe they are obligated to pay him unless he is getting credit from his university for the experience. Check this out more carefully.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Unpaid internships are sadly the cost of of getting in the door to many competitive fields. It doesn't guarantee future jobs, but those jobs will almost certainly not come without this step. You have to play in order to win.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately that is the sports industry. Wait till he graduates and makes $30k selling ticket packages.

[Anonymous]

It's the industry. I had a friend working at the EPA in a desirable area, and they'd put ads out for the lowest type of job like making copies and doing drudgery, and she'd still get flooded with resumes from way overqualified people like PhDs. There just weren't that many jobs in that area and people were desperate to break into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds bogus to me. The team is not a charity. I believe they are obligated to pay him unless he is getting credit from his university for the experience. Check this out more carefully.

I don’t know the rules for sports but I know for a fact that there are industries where they never pay their interns ever (and yet internships are necessary to get a job) — publishing is one. I think it’s abhorrent but I know it happens.

[Anonymous]

Unpaid internships should be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Unpaid internships actually are illegal - they violate Department of Labor regulations. Many media companies were sued for violations and had to pay interns back wages. Sports teams are essentially media companies and should know better.

[Anonymous]

Know a kid making $55k with a masters degree in business and works in the industry. Athletes make all the money. In house staff make nothing.

[Anonymous]

The company can’t offer the kid any compensation? No stipend? Nothing? This should not still be happening in 2023!