Why it’s time to end unpaid internships

At J&G, we’re committed to paying interns (at least) the National Living Wage. Why is this so important? Find out more from master’s student Lis Drinkwater, who recently completed an internship with us. In her blog, she shares what it’s like to start your comms career and why being paid for her work made a big difference.

Over to Lis…

Last November, I was sitting in my Uni library finalising an assignment for my master’s. I looked around the room, almost feeling envious of all the first and second year students that still had so long left of their degree. I envied them because I was coming to the end of my time as a student, and the fear of “what happens next?” was far too real.

The sinking feeling of knowing that in less than a year I would be flung into the world of work, was terrifying. All I seemed to hear was my friends discussing their failed job applications and the stress of job ads for marketing assistant roles requiring “three years industry experience”. I realised that while I was dreaming of a career in marketing after I graduated, I had no idea how I was going to get there.

I needed to act. I began to comprise a list of marketing companies I liked the look of, looking at their clients, ethics and ways of working. I checked LinkedIn daily and liked countless “unpaid” internship ads, most of which required existing experience. Then I began applying, along with thousands of other students in my situation. I sent emails trying to sell myself, even offering to work for free; I begged employers just for a conversation about my future in marketing.

Time passed and I heard nothing, no one got back to me even to say they had no roles, weren’t interested or the role had been filled. I tried to not let this dishearten me, but when the weight of your future is on your shoulders at 21 years of age, it’s scary. Repeating the now somewhat ritualistic task of scrolling through my emails as soon as I woke up, I saw an email.

The email was from Abi at Jack & Grace; my fingers have never clicked on an email so fast in my life. Her response was kind, optimistic and enthusiastic. When I read that they’d love to have me on board, I audibly screamed. I knew from our first phone call that I’d be looked after as an intern at J&G. Not only did Abi tell me that I’d be paid, but I’d be paid a national living wage, something I never even dreamed of.

Most jobs I’d had up until my internship at J&G were exploitative, underpaid and I had to work awful hours. It was so refreshing knowing with J&G it would be different. Being from a working-class background, working part-time throughout my studies was a necessity, expensive living costs in my Uni city meant that my student loan hardly covered my rent. Being given the opportunity to have a paid internship with J&G meant I could have the same experience as students in better financial positions, it finally felt like I was on a level playing field.

Not only did Jack & Grace pay me but they also offered me the opportunity for real, hands-on work. No letter shredding and brew-making were required. When I was told I’d be brought in to work on an account with a long-standing client, I just couldn’t believe it. I was so honoured and proud that J&G believed in me.

Since being at J&G, my confidence in the marketing world has skyrocketed. I feel good about my ideas and my content creation. I have liaised with clients, wrote reports, researched and now I’m writing this blog post! It feels so refreshing to contribute to a company that’s driven by a moral code and genuinely cares about their team.

I may have just been an intern, but Jack & Grace made me feel like so much more than that.