Open Letter to all Organizations Taking Interns This Summer

Most college students have just finished their exams and are now starting their college breaks. This Summer break always comes with the added pressure of finding an internship that we can use as the experience once we finally graduate and step into a job market. For those studying at private universities and colleges, this becomes even more important for placements, etc.

The National Education Policy that was released last year, stated that it wanted internships and vocational training to be a part of the curriculum in higher education institutes. For some of us, it already is. 

So, with that in mind, we set out polishing our resumes and applying for all internships that presented themselves when we entered our course name on Internshala. We also used LinkedIn or contacted everyone we knew could help us land suitable work at a suitable place.

However, there is something that continued to bother me while submitting tones of application. Several of the internships that offered real work only gave in return a certificate and an “opportunity to gain experience in the industry."

Now I don’t want to sound disgruntled or unappreciative but all work and labor must be paid for. Even if that means paying an internee the average wage. Many countries mandate paying the proper wages for hiring internees, I don’t see that happening here. 

Some of the larger organizations that are coveted places to land an internship opportunity say they can’t pay students who haven’t finished at least graduation. I understand their concern with having to spend time training a beginner to do basic work. But once training is over and they offer substantial work that can be benefitted from, is the minimum pay too much to ask? 

Over the next few years, the number of students taking up internships will only rise and it’s important to provide them this basic right. I’m not asking companies to offer a stipend forefront, but based on performance, the pay can be incentivized. I assure you this will only encourage hard workers and sort out them out from the crowds. 

Internships are the greatest requirement to be able to step out into the job markets with confidence and be able to offer something even as a beginner. That is exactly why even the Ministry of Education suggested it in the NEP 2020 in the first place. And offering a basic amount will only elevate the point of it, not belittle it. 

Internships are and must function more, like co-opportunities. Companies often look for future employees through internships and therefore they must be treated the same. 

Speaking as a college student, and on behalf of all my peers I have talked to about this, we cherish these opportunities to get our hands greased and learning to work the machines (metaphorically, speaking) Without a paygrade, opportunities will be reduced to just slave labor with the promise of an experience.

I in no way mean to offend any employer (in case, any of my future employers are reading this)

Sincerely,

A college student.