Ask HN: Unpaid Internship Options

7 points by jack57 13 years ago | 12 comments

I have an internship opportunity in Glendale, California working on games for a Viacom company, but it is unpaid and they do not pay for housing. I am currently on the other side of the country, and have a paid internship from last summer working on Android applications for a defense contractor. I can do the unpaid internship with the fairly well known Viacom company using a $4000 dollar stipend from my university, or stay in my lesser state writing Android apps for pay. The Android work is actually very interesting, but doesn't have the allure of working for a well known company in California across the country.

Will the unpaid internship be worth the experience?

stevenameyer 13 years ago |

Is money an issue for you? if yes then i think the the answer is probably to go with the one that pays. If not then go to the one that you think will benefit you most in the long run, and there are a lot of factors that could play into that decision which i dont think anyone on here could tell you the answer to.

What kind of work do you want to finally end up doing? How much responsibility will you be given at each? Will you make better connections at one or the other? Which work environment do you like more? Are you passionate on interested in the work they are doing? Which one will provide you with a better learning experience?

There are so many personal factors that weigh into a decision like this, and money may or may not be a large factor for you. But thats up to you to decide. Ultimately i think it comes down to where you'll be happier, and which will help you the most down the road. Answer those to questions and i think you will probably come to your answer.

merinid 13 years ago |

At this stage in your career, money is less important than a brand name on your resume, more interesting work, and a diversity of experience. Do side work to get paid?

shail 13 years ago |

I think if you try a bit more (considering you have experience building Android apps), you can get similar setup which pays too. So I will suggest try other places.

There should be only and only one reason for you to do that unpaid internship, that is if you are going to learn something very unique which you will not learn anywhere else even if its paying a lot.

1337biz 13 years ago |

If you are not super tight with your money situation I would go with the unpaid one. Sounds way more exciting and an interesting environment to experience. You will have enough opportunities for "regular" jobs after college so use the internships to take some risks.

brudgers 13 years ago |

That you are classifying the unpaid internship as an opportunity says something about your goals. That you are debating a paid internship over an unpaid one says something, too.

Internships are supposed to be about learning. There's plenty of other options if you just want a job.

Good luck.

JoachimSchipper 13 years ago |

When weighing this, also consider the fact that professional game developers get paid relatively little, especially per actually-worked-hour, due to an enormous oversupply. The opposite is true for defense and Android developers.

shrughes 13 years ago |

Get a paid internship. Paid internships exist (all over the place). Game development paid internships do too. You have more options than those two, those are just the ones you've found.

27182818284 13 years ago |

California is expensive. A defense contractor where you gain experience in the emerging mobile market sounds like the WAY better option, even if it doesn't impress the opposite sex.

seivan 13 years ago |

I wouldn't take the unpaid internship. It's not worth it. If you're good, you wouldn't be free. There's a developer shortage, don't let these fuckers skin you.

logn 13 years ago |

Do you really value your time at $0/hr? Sure you get experience, but you're getting experience at the other job too.

charlesjshort 13 years ago |

If you don't need ca$h there are plenty of opportunities for equity. Get one or the other, maybe a mix of the two.

edwardunknown 13 years ago |

Well, if you can afford it and want to move to California anyway the internship could be an excuse to do it. But never, ever trust anyone who asks you to work for free. It doesn't matter who they are or what they're promising, don't fucking trust them.