So you think the scenario played out in the new Robert DeNiro film The Intern is just Hollywood poking fun at the workplace? Think again. Let’s face it: The economic meltdown is still impacting the employment landscape for everyone. Part of that change includes the “new internship.” No longer is this position for a student or recent graduate. In fact, a number of experienced job seekers are leveraging the position as an opportunity for future employment to keep their skills sharp or simply re-define their career paths.
According to Cari Sommer, the co-founder of UrbanInterns.com a site that connects employers with candidates seeking internships, part-time jobs and freelance work, the definition of internship has evolved. “Internship doesn’t just mean eight weeks over the summer at a big corporation,” she says. “A lot of time interns are needed by growing companies throughout the year, for hours per week (as opposed to just full time for a specific number of weeks).”
Whether they’re eight hours each day or a few hours each week, experts say internships aren’t necessarily a bad strategy for adults with previous work experience. Dr. Kristin Cardinale, career coach and author of The 9-to-5 Cure, explains, “The internship is training, a bartering of sorts whereby the intern exchanges time and effort for an opportunity to gain experience and look into the workings of a job or career field that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.” Plus, she mentions idle time is put to good use from a productivity standpoint. “The power of ‘time-off’ is underrated; unemployment can be the most liberating, inspiring time of a working person’s life when used well.”
You also can’t discount the ability to make new connections because your foot—and face—are already in the door. Having immediate access to key decision makers is a plus and as Dr. Cardinale points out¬ it “can lead to an increased likelihood of future employment within the organization.”
In addition, if you’re out of work you may feel like your skills are getting stale. Internships give job-seekers the opportunity to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world says Erica Orange, vice-president of Weiner, Edrich, Brown, Inc., a New York City-based futurist consulting firm that analyzes trends in technology, economics and politics. “Required skill sets are shifting and internships allow people to stay ahead of the curve and develop a personal tool-kit that is germane to jobs in the 21st century,” Orange says.
Although staying sharp and gaining new skills are key selling points to a prospective employer, buyers beware: Internships have their drawbacks, too. For instance, Orange points out internship opportunities may be scarce. She also points out that for those who do get one many people “say it is menial with low or no pay.” As companies face pressure to keep costs down, they may rely upon the free labor and sometimes the tasks may be menial.
The biggest risk is losing your mojo on an external job search; the internship might create a false sense of security the gig will result in full-time employment. “Interns are often unrecognized for their accomplishments by the organization-at-large and hold no promise of future placement at the company,” Dr. Cardinale points out,
To intern or not to intern…that is the question. Perhaps the answer is best found in recognizing the evolving workforce and where you want to go. “An internship is simply an opportunity to test-drive a dream job, kick the tires a little and see if it’s the right fit for you,” Dr. Cardinale reminds us.