Advice on Unpaid internships

Hi all,

I recently received an internship offer to work at a REPE / Development firm. However, the internship offer is unpaid. The hiring managers told me that they would like to extend an offer for an unpaid internship because I'm a young student and the other candidates were older/had more experience, but I was obviously interested in the industry.

I know that I would learn a ton about acquisitions/development in this role. However, my first semester is not over yet and there might be other opportunities for paid internships.

I'd like some advice from those further down the road than I am. Should I accept this offer despite the absence of pay (money is not an issue for me at the moment), or should I wait for another opportunity? If so, how should I tell the hiring managers that I need some time to think?

Any advice would be appreciated.

2 Comments
 

Personally i would try to ask for a nominal stipend on principle. I think if you make clear you are not doing it for the money (it's gonna be peanuts anyway) but won't devalue yourself just for the experience, the team will tend to take you a bit more seriously than just some kid hanging around during the summer. 

You probably don't have any leverage though so don't be too pushy about it. 

 

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