Mature workers compete for internships

[Liberal_in_LA]

Mature workers compete for internships

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Washington Business Journal - by Jeff Clabaugh

Wet behind the ears does not describe every applicant seeking an internship this fall, with many employers seeing applications from experienced workers and even applicants over 50 years old.

Those observations, made in an employer survey by CareerBuilder, which says the end result will be stiff competition for internships this fall.

It says 23 percent of employers surveyed report they are seeing internship applications from workers with more than 10 years experience or workers age 50 or older.

“The last 18 months have reshaped internships as more than an experience-builder for college students. Now they are also a way for experienced workers to explore new opportunities,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.



Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/08/09/daily38.html

[LiberalEsto]

1. Internships in DC are basically free labor

This is how many places in the DC metro area avoid having to hire entry-level people or, heaven forbid, pay them and give them benefits. At best, interns get a tiny stipend like $200 a month to help with living expenses. Internships are basically for kids whose parents can afford to subsidize them for a semester or two.

I live in this area, have been out of work for nearly two years,have applied to a couple of internship positions. Got no replies whatsoever. Perhaps I'm overqualified?

[Kat45]

2. Most internship ads I've seen say person has to be eligible for college credit

So these would be limited to college students. Though I wouldn't be surprised if some companies are advertising what are really entry level jobs as internships to try to get away with getting workers for free. From what I understand, the government is aware of that and plans to crack down on the practice, but I don't know if that's gone anywhere.