Working for Free
So today I had a conversation with a friend of mine who is about to move further South to take an internship at ___________ . When I asked about a little more detail, I was told they were going to be working for free. After an hour of thinking the idea really started to bother me.... Working for free. Then, I started to think even more about lot’s of other people who have been through the same thing.
When I was in college (2002) I did have an internship at a very good shop in town. I too worked for free. Why did I do it? So I could have the name on my resume and the work in my book. Would I do it now if I were in the same boat? I honestly don’t know. And this is why:
Working over the last few years, I have learned there are places out there EVERYONE wants to work; And what’s sad is I believe the Agency’s know that. Does that give them the right to abuse people, burn them out and replace them after 3-6 months with the next eager intern? Do these CD’s sit in a room and think “We don’t have to pay people because we are one of the best. People will work for free”. I simply don’t think it’s fair at all. Students should at least be paid a decent wage for their efforts.
There is something to be said about someone that has a lot of natural talent. Hands down, Art school can only teach you so much. I have seen over the last few year’s some really great students of mine end up getting offers to work internships for FREE. What really gets me is, I have seen students great idea’s get sold to clients. And, what did they give back to the person? That piece in their book? Not always because some end up signing lot’s of NDA’s, etc; so they can’t even showcase the work. I feel they are simply raped of their idea’s and effort.
How do you feel?
When I was in college (2002) I did have an internship at a very good shop in town. I too worked for free. Why did I do it? So I could have the name on my resume and the work in my book. Would I do it now if I were in the same boat? I honestly don’t know. And this is why:
Working over the last few years, I have learned there are places out there EVERYONE wants to work; And what’s sad is I believe the Agency’s know that. Does that give them the right to abuse people, burn them out and replace them after 3-6 months with the next eager intern? Do these CD’s sit in a room and think “We don’t have to pay people because we are one of the best. People will work for free”. I simply don’t think it’s fair at all. Students should at least be paid a decent wage for their efforts.
There is something to be said about someone that has a lot of natural talent. Hands down, Art school can only teach you so much. I have seen over the last few year’s some really great students of mine end up getting offers to work internships for FREE. What really gets me is, I have seen students great idea’s get sold to clients. And, what did they give back to the person? That piece in their book? Not always because some end up signing lot’s of NDA’s, etc; so they can’t even showcase the work. I feel they are simply raped of their idea’s and effort.
How do you feel?
posted by eric shoemaker at
3:38 PM
1 Comments:
It's a great point. And the fact is, this practice is "genetic". Enivitably, that intern will one day either work for a company that does the same thing or become a Creative Director that does it themselves.
I think this is part of the design community's overblown sense of importance - it's lapsed into narcicism! And it's bad for individuals and for industries.
If the design community where someone you took out on a date, they wouldn't get many second-times-out. No one wants to hang out with someone who thinks they are "God's gift to man".
In some ways this situation is very sobering. I think as designers we need to ask ourselves some serious questions. Like, should you be so amazed when your employer asks you to work insane hours on high-stress projects, when it was this same employer that atracted you with an internship that offered you nothing but a name on a resume or a few screenshots in a book. What is your company saying about people in general if once you recieve your paycheck they assume the rights to just about every waking moment of your life - even weekends and holidays. Should you be suprised at that when it was that company's aire of elitism that romanced you into its clutches to begin with? Hmmmm.
So, I guess I'm gathering from this self-disclosing rant that I think working for the less glamorous company that considers thier employees the soul of thier success, might not be such a bad idea. Even if you don't get a ton of big, sexy projects. At least you'll have your sanity and a more meaningful connection with the work you do day-in and day-out.
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