How to Ask for an Unpaid Internship to Be Paid

Internships are a common way to bridge from school to work.

Internships are a valuable stepping stone in creating a strong work history, especially for students who may not have much experience. Paid internships may be especially hard to find and difficult to land. Asking for money is never easy, but it might be possible to convert an unpaid internship to a paid one by showing how it is beneficial to both the student and the company.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

1. Work the internship for a few weeks (or more) prior to asking for a paid position. Proving you are a valuable addition to the company's staff will be critical in getting paid for the work.

2. Find an advocate within the company who believes in you and the value of the work you contribute. This person may or may not be the one who can decide if you can get paid. You will need this advocate once you formally ask for the pay.

3. Write a proposal. Include all of the assigned tasks and duties. Indicate how each of these adds to financial value to the company.

4. Make a brief presentation based on the proposal. The presentation should include a select few bullet points about your contributions along with a chart or graph highlighting the value of your work.

5. Request a 30 minute meeting with the decision maker. Make sure your advocate is able to attend the meeting.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to find a funding source for the position. Some work-study programs will allow students to work off campus at an approved location.

References

• Monster: Maybe You Can Get Paid at an Unpaid Internship
• Unigo: Internships Get paid to aid