With the downturn in the economy the numbers of college grads looking to intern in their field of interesting are growing. Finding paid work is no longer a guarantee and many view experience in the industry of their choice as more valuable than a paycheck in an area they have no interest in (ie waiting tables or serving coffee.) But with growing competition, many companies are offering internship services that guarantee a position in a given field, some even with room and board. The New York Times featured an article on the phenomenon of paying for an unpaid job.

Author, Gerry Shih, writes,  “But many educators and students argue that while the programs bridge one gulf — between those who have degrees from prestigious colleges or family connections and those who do not — only to create a new one, between the students who have parents willing and able to buy their children better job prospects and those who do not.”

If you could buy your way into the perfect job, wouldn’t you? But what if you can’t? Is there financial aid for for less fortunate people who want to pay to get a job that won’t pay them?

Another issue Shih brings up is if students have their parents pay for their opportunities, how will they learn the skills to get one themselves.

“Other college advisers cautioned that while the desire to help is understandable, parents who pay for an internship program are depriving their children of the chance to develop job-seeking skills or to taste rejection before they have to fend for themselves.”

As so many of the career experts we have quoted note, failure has only led to their success. If students and recent grads never have the opportunity to fail, will they ever learn the tenacity it takes  to succeed?

What are your thoughts on this interesting new trend?