The Fine Line Between Training and Exploitation

I was once an intern for one whole year, and while I was with the company, it was a combination of both mentorship and knowledge from my end and value added to the company at the same time, and sincerely, I was paid a handsome salary as such, although I am aware that it's not the same for all interns in different companies.

An internship is usually a temporary opportunity where people have practical experience of whatever they must have read in school. It is an avenue to lay hands practically on all the grammars the lecturers have been blowing all through the many years of study in school, seeing things done practically. Always a great experience that usually brings mutual benefit to both the intern and the company.

However, interns are usually encouraged to focus more on knowledge rather than money, but to be honest, both money and knowledge are needed for an intern. From my experience so far, some companies prefer to employ more interns, people they won't pay a salary or perhaps pay a stipend and in turn, train and start taking advantage of their value added to the company.

I worked in a company like that, and my boss always recruited interns because he never wanted to spend money but would ensure these guys overwork themselves all in the name of learning. That's exploitation if you ask me. Every laborer deserves some wages. Come to think of it, these interns take transport to their workplace, they feed, do laundry, change their shoes when they wear off, and eat. All these are expenses, and yet they don't deserve pay because they are learning?

I think it's fair enough to give them stipends that can cover all their expenses, or even salary, as long as they add value to the company in the process of their learning. No services should be for free except those of volunteers; he that works deserves to be paid if you ask me.

For companies that feel they can't pay interns, then let their work end in learning, with no extension of rendering services to the company; that way it becomes fair that they don't overwork interns and leave them empty-handed.

All the same, internships remain one of such program that adds more value to CVs due to the experiences involved in the program. So regardless of the exploitation interns get from employers, most of them still endure it for future purposes, but if things should be done rightly, it makes sense that people get rewarded for a job well done even in their learning phase.

My experience as an intern back then was great. I was almost treated like regular staff. In fact, my salary was tempered with the month I reported to the office late, and that was discipline, same way they treated regular staff . Even though I was a learner, the company appreciated my little addition to their development, and that was a lot of motivation otherwise my Learning back then would have depreciated if I must be sincere, but whenever I look around and see that the experience was a win-win, I will be motivated to give in my best in that phase of my life.

Images were taken from canva