The job market it rough. If you’re looking then you’ve likely come across plenty of listings for internships, and you’ve probably thought about applying but you were quickly turned off by the lack of payment. I don’t blame you; however, in some cases these opportunities might be worth your consideration. Here are five questions to ask yourself before shying away completely from an unpaid internship.

1. Can you afford it? If you’ve graduated from college and the price of the real world has started to sink in, anything unpaid sounds a bit ridiculous. But maybe the pros would outweigh the cons if you’re looking for an investment into your future. Which leads us to the next question…

2. What are the hours? If you’re taking anything unpaid, chances are you can’t afford to do it for 40 hours a week. You will either have another job or school. Consider how it could fit into the other parts of your life. If you can do it remotely for some of the time, or it requires little face time in the actual office, then it might not be a bad fit with your other paying jobs.

3. Will it allow you to continue your search? If you do take an internship, you’ll probably still want to job hunt. Keep on keeping on, but make sure you are dedicated to your internship and do your tasks on time and well. Internships are a great opportunity for future references.

4. Is it for a company that offers interns future jobs? A lot of companies consider internships to be training grounds for future employees. If the internship in question is for such a company, it might be worth taking it for the potential alone.

5. Is it in a field of your interest and will it provide tangible experience? Some companies use their interns as coffee mules. It’s sad but true. Internships that provide actual experience are becoming more common, though. Companies are getting busier as the economy improves, but might not want to jump to hiring a full-time employee. These opportunities allow for tons of growth and education in the field of your choice.

So, the net-net? Do your research and make sure the opportunity is worth the expense and time. If it is, do your absolute best. Every experience for your resume will only make the job search easier in the future.

Happy hunting!

xo The Capitalista

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Alexandra Saville (@CapitalistaBlog) is a PR & Media Outreach Manager. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college.

Alexandra Saville

Alexandra Saville is the Media and Writing Specialist at Law Street Media. She has experience in the publishing and marketing worlds and started her own publishing company right out of college. Her blogs, The Capitalista and Capitalista Careers, focus on the young and the entrepreneurial.

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