The Unpaid Internship Is Indefensible

By Peter D'Amato. There’s an email in my inbox from a magazine I’ve never heard of, a digital publication from a start-up media group, seeking an editorial intern. Not required, but a plus, are previous editorial experience, copyediting skills and a familiarity with Photoshop. The position must be taken for credit and is unpaid, but the closing line of the email assures: “On our team, we guarantee adventure!”
As it turns out, adventure alone is not enough to keep an internship legal. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued clear, strict guidelines stating that any position providing an “immediate advantage” to its employer should be classified as a paid job, not an unpaid internship. See more...