Will my unpaid internship be worth it in the end?

It should give you valuable real life experience and will only enhance your resumé after you graduate. I believe that it will be worth it, given your training and interests.

It sounds like you have a very supportive husband. Kiss him early and often.

Since you are a volunteer, do the best you can with the heavy workload. Does that represent a typical caseload for a paid Probation Officer? If so, this experience will show you what your work life will be like after you graduate.

I have never understood how companies get away with hiring interns with no pay. They are getting free help. But since you said it is nearly impossible to get a paying intern position, then I think this can only help you on your resume.

Getting good experience in your field is always helpful. Look at this as an opportunity for both you and the employer to evaluate each other. That type of caseload given to a “volunteer” appears to me to be more of a test to see if you’re up to it. Build positive working relationships with coworkers who you can network with after graduation when you’re searching for a full time paid position when you graduate.

Also, I’m surprised this isn’t considered for credit by your college/university since many require internships as part of the degree program. You may want to recheck this with your advisor. Good luck

Experience is very important, so yes. Hopefully it will pay off.

My daughter is in a very similar situation, and will start her unpaid internship on Monday. She’s interested in a career in the political field, and her internship is a full time, unpaid job with a Senator. It’s too soon to say whether it will be ‘worth it’ in the end, but we imagine it will be. Real world experience isn’t easy to come by before you get the degree, and the connections you’ll make can be invaluable. If nothing else, it will be a definite plus on your resume. Best of luck!

No way! Volunteer work good? Yes! 40 hours a week unpaid?! PSH, NOOOO!

The career center at my university told me NEVER take an unpaid internship. There are opportunities out there for you to get experience AND make money, you’ll just have to look a little harder . . . of course you will have to look harder for a job taht will pay you compared to one who will take your 40 hours/ week for free…

You’re in college, you need experience, but you need your TIME and MONEY alot more!

@gailcalled Yes, I’m taking weekly reports, writing up citations and warrants, sitting in on court hearings, etc. The only things I can’t do are home visits, making arrests, and signing paperwork that agents can sign. For the most part, I work on my own unless I have a question.

@BosM Oh, I made sure to check with my school first. My program doesn’t require an internship and they said I could only get credit at certain places. I also know that when you get credit for an internship, you have to pay for it like a class. To be honest, I’d rather not get paid than have to pay just do it.

I’m doing it for real-world experience, like many of you have said, and my husband can afford it for these three short months. I’m developing a bit of a reputation for being good at what I’m doing and I already know I’m getting recommendation letters from all three of my supervisors when I’m done.

I’m just thinking – what if, after I graduate, there are no openings for probation/parole agents? Will this internship still look good in related careers – like other law enforcement/government jobs?

A degree is great to have but experience is everything. If you can afford to do it, do it.

@LornaLove This question was posted 1 year, 5 months, and 2 summer internships ago. But thanks anyway.