Carla Wilson-484785 (6/8/2012)
I would guess that the unpaid intern scenario got a foothold a few years ago, when college grads just could not get a job when they graduated, and their choice was bus tables at minimum wage or work for free in their field and at least gain some experience and networking. Taking advantage of a person like that is pretty sleazy in my book.
Yes and no. As with all else, I have to say "It Depends". Consider how much time, money, and effort a company will spend bringing someone up to speed so that they actually can be useful. That person gains some very valuable experience which the person right out of school and then.... they leave to go somewhere else because the now have "experience". That's an aweful lot of lost learning for the company that took the intern in.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.