Opportunity Or Exploitation? Her.ie Readers Have Their Say On Unpaid Internships

The issue of unpaid internships has come to the fore yet again this week, with a major debate set to take place on RTÉ's Claire Byrne Live tonight. With many Her.ie readers in the age group most affected by the widespread use of such internships, we took to Twitter to ask their opinion on this contentious issue.

The issue of unpaid internships will be debated on #clairebyrnelive tonight. Exploitation or opportunity - where do you stand?

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) February 2, 2015

We got a phenomenal response and here are just a sample of your experiences...

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@Herdotie Exploitation. I've done it. It's demeaning, unrewarding & exhausting when you have to work a paid job on top to support yourself. — Gillian (@__gillianc) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie Its expected of students in the culinary field. no pay, no breaks and long hours. Its the way that industry has always been. — Grace (@Super_Dorris) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie Exploitation. Experience is great but it's not going to pay my bills and feed me. — Aoife Bennett (@AoifeAnnMartha) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie I got amazing contacts, opportunities & employment out of the 3 unpaid internships I've done. Would do it all over again. — Lauren | TheDareProj (@Daresie) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie I did a 9 month internship on jobbridge and got a full time, well paid job out of it. Not all companies are abusing the workers. — Anya (@xBumbleBee_x) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie ce scheme requires unemployment for months before u can apply so I can't even apply 4 unpaid positions 2 get the experience I need — Jennifer O' Shea (@vivster82) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie They exploit because it's a golden opportunity & so many people will still apply for it. Experience is necessary these days — Hannah (@Hannahlou_27) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie not just exploitation but gentrification, not everyone can afford to work for free. — Gal Pal Rachel Green (@infinityonhi) February 2, 2015

@dw00dz @Herdotie My Nursing degree placement. €0 per hour. Internship €6.49 per hour. 13/14 hour shifts outrageous. — Shayni Dunne (@RealSlimShayni) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie You're unemployed,you want to work for your own sanity & to make CV look good but its not what it says on the tin!#ClaireByrenLive — Shannon Forrest (@shannon_forrest) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie internships are meant to be for experience & development, leading to potential job. They are not free labour. Too many exploit. — Louise Noone (@LouiseNoone) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie i did it but I got fantastic experience which has stood to me since, still it's unfair you should be remunerated for working hard — thetwodarlings (@thetwodarlings) February 2, 2015

Many companies provide useful, nurturing internships & work exp. Those asking for large amount of skill for no pay is a joke. @Herdotie — Louise Noone (@LouiseNoone) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie we're suffering a major brain drain from it. I know at least 10 people who did the infamous #Jobbridge not 1 of them got the job — Let them eat cake (@doh_oh_dear) February 2, 2015

@Herdotie 427 hours unpaid this year alone working as a student midwife and then when I get to 4th year €6.49 a hour — Caoimhe Sadhbh (@CaoimheB95) February 2, 2015

@__gillianc @Herdotie Agreed. I've done it too, hard to give it your best on the job when you're worrying about making ends meet. — Clodagh Corry (@Flipendo_Orb) February 2, 2015

@__gillianc @Flipendo_Orb @Herdotie I was pregnant during my last unpaid internship and still made feel guilty for putting my paid job first — Alannah Monks (@AlannahMonks) February 2, 2015