13th January 2009, 02:48 PM
Subject to caveats regarding exploitation, unreasonably low wages and the job being a meaningful "real" job, not an entirely made-up one consisting entirely of photocopying, tea making etc, (although any newcomer to a profession can expect to perform a certain amount of menial tasks) I am guardedly in favour of "internships".
In fact I believe such practices should be the norm, not a desperate recession-only measure. It used to be considered the moral duty of a professional practice or firm to employ a new graduate, school-leaver or (in the case of architecture for example) a year-out student and was expected by the professinal institution (although not, I believe, obligatory). Almost all architect's offices would have, for example, a year-out student and a 16-20 year old trainee technician/office boy/girl. In this way, something was "given back" and the supply of experienced professionals was assured: the industry (profession) met its responsibilty to train its own people. Of course those were the days when "professional" meant something other than a job title and a suit... and before the concept of professionalism was whittled away by the dogma of the eighties... sorry, a seperate rant!!
If the government (us) want to chip in and help, fine, but as I say I share many of the concerns expressed by others. I imagine that there would be a limit on how many interns could be part-funded per firm so a site (or office) being flooded with the young rascals is fairly unlikely.
In fact I believe such practices should be the norm, not a desperate recession-only measure. It used to be considered the moral duty of a professional practice or firm to employ a new graduate, school-leaver or (in the case of architecture for example) a year-out student and was expected by the professinal institution (although not, I believe, obligatory). Almost all architect's offices would have, for example, a year-out student and a 16-20 year old trainee technician/office boy/girl. In this way, something was "given back" and the supply of experienced professionals was assured: the industry (profession) met its responsibilty to train its own people. Of course those were the days when "professional" meant something other than a job title and a suit... and before the concept of professionalism was whittled away by the dogma of the eighties... sorry, a seperate rant!!
If the government (us) want to chip in and help, fine, but as I say I share many of the concerns expressed by others. I imagine that there would be a limit on how many interns could be part-funded per firm so a site (or office) being flooded with the young rascals is fairly unlikely.