Basically, a random intern won't be always treated this way. I was working with one of my friend, that's why I could have my way. After, I did another internship to co;e here, in the US, and I finally realized how it was to be an intern. I did have the chance to work hand to hand with an amazing designer for 4 months, and every day was different. It was different because you're doing everything. When I say everything, I mean everything : from the cleaning to the sales, the display of the store, the marketing duties... When you are a foreigner like me, you don't have that much opportunities to get hired by an American company. European people means a lot of paperwork to fill out for the supervisor and not everybody wants to spend time doing this. In comparison European people have also their set of duties. As a matter of fact, it's really expensive to come here to do an internship, unpaid most of the time. To be honest, I know a bunch of people who did an internship, almost paid like a full-time position, in the design industry. Sounds like we chose the wrong area.
In a general way, there is much more money in design companies than in publication ones (especially here in San Francisco). They have difficulties no paying their own employees you can't be surprised by the fact they are not able to pay you. You know it when you walk through an editorial office. It's the reality of the market and unfortunately you have to deal with it.Following a survey from NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers) conducted from February, 15, 2013 to April, 30, 2013, 63,1 percent of paid interns received at least one job. Plus, paid interns will earn as a junior employee around 51,930$ a year. That's heaven. How many people can find a paid internship and more of all, do unpaid internship worth it? The answer is : not really.That's not my thoughts but statistics. 35,2 % of interrogated students who didn't follow any internship program find a job at the end. In comparison, 37% who did an unpaid internship get hired by someone. The difference between both staring salaries is infinitesimal, and the money they saved when they were working whereas others were doing an unpaid work has to be taken in consideration.
Besides, people are talking every day more about a new kind of slavery which is called unpaid internships. I don't know if it's a realistic point of view, even if we can find a definition for it as "slavery : work done in harsh conditions for low pay". To say the truth, I watched this movie 12 years a slave few days ago and I don't think the pay was their main concern. In few words, I will say I'm not for the victimization speech. Nobody is forcing you to accept the job, paid or unpaid. Don't take it if you can't afford your every-day life by your own, and don't let people treating you as a general help just because they promise you a job in their huge company. Money is not everything in life, your brain should know that. You have to be your own judge, but be conscious of one reality. Why a recruiter will pay you if he can hire someone else for free to do the same job? Because nobody does the same job than you. Hey, you're the best, just prove them! If you're not (I know, it happens sometimes)...
...unpaid internships can be great sometimes, can't they?
Also, here's a cover letter. They should be short, sweet and clear. I usually stick to this clean and simple format, but there are many ways to do it.
Make sure to proofread! Really. And also make your friends proofread. Then proofread it again. I've sent in resumes with minor typos and mistakes.. and then felt like an idiot after. This is their first impression of you. Don't fuck it up with dumb typos!
