Unpaid internships should be illegal

  Gone are the days of entry-level jobs. My generation has discovered there is essentially no way to break into our career field without experience. In many cases, the only way to get that experience is by working long hours for free at an internship. Not only is this often exhausting, it is also, in some cases, illegal.

   I'm in the middle of an internship search. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to find an internship, let alone a paid internship.

   In recent years, especially since the economic downturn, the amount of unpaid internships has increased. According to a National Public Radio article, more than 1 million Americans work as interns each year and half of them aren't paid. We are not only working as unpaid interns but also aren't given the work we often hope for. We're getting coffee and answering the phones instead of learning about our chosen trade.

   There are strict rules set by the U.S. Department of Labor that outline the six criteria that for-profit companies must meet if they want to employ unpaid interns, including providing an educational environment and ensuring the intern does not displace an employee.

   In November, two unpaid interns filed a class-action lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures because they were hired to file paperwork and run personal errands for their bosses – work that violates the internship labor laws.

   Companies work around the law by giving students college credit for their internships. Nancy Leppink, deputy wage and hour administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor, explains in a 2011 New York Times article that earning college credit doesn't automatically free the employer from breaking the law – all the criteria must be met.

   While internships seem like a worthwhile effort on the part of the company and the California state legislation, it hurts the students more than the unpaid internship alone. Students who work internships over the summer must now pay tuition costs on top of living expenses, which the internship doesn't cover. How am I supposed to pay for tuition and living expenses without a job?

   I understand the opposition's side. I will build my resume. I could leave the internship with references and connections or the possibility of another job. And for students at Chapman whose majors require internship credit, it seems like the perfect deal. But for students like me just trying to pay the bills and work toward a future career, it isn't enough.

   Employers should give students the option: college credit or minimum wage. Those that need, or prefer, college credit can earn it. I can learn to live off minimum wage through the educational process of an internship, and the company can prevent lawsuits. If companies can't afford to pay minimum wage for interns, I suggest the work only be career-related experience, not getting the dry cleaning and ordering lunch. But for now, I'll continue to send my resume to unpaid internships and start searching for extra jobs to keep my bank account afloat.