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I'm 45 and I've been interning for 9 months with Multnomah County in the Department of Community Justice. This is the first time I've done it, and  it is really great experience. It is around 30 hours a week, unpaid, and I've been getting out what I put into it. I consider it working, and it makes more sense to me to be working while collecting unemployment. Of course, I have to do job search as well, but honestly NO ONE can search 5 days a week for 8 hours a day. An internship allows me to take off for interviews and is flexible. I am able to take time to apply for positions if my daily search turns up some options. Additionally, I have access to internal county recruitments. I've applied to on-call positions, and part-time positions as well as full-time.

I've found that finding a satisfying position is not only about your skill set. It may indeed by who you know, and what alliances you've manage to build. I have just been recommended for two positions based on additional work I was available to do for a different division. Also, the longer I'm gaining experience, the more I'll qualify for other roles.

 I've been a recruiter ( technical, financial, and many specific executive disciplines) for over 12 years and cannot find work in an economy like this. I've noticed that through volunteering and interning, I've learned the basics of several careers, and I'm aware of so many related positions where these skills can easily transfer.

 The feedback I've gotten is this: Older interns show up and take the responsibility seriously, usually because they have had full time employment experience for years. Younger interns who are still in school often have so much else on their minds that they don't have as much time to give (in terms of weekly hours) so they don't have as much time to get a real feel for the position. If an intern is working for a summer outside of school they may get a better sense of the responsibilities.

posted 3 years ago
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