Out of nearly 300 applications,
a quarter of them replied that they have no vacancies,
half of them don't even reply (understandable,I assume that they are bombarded with plenty of applications per day anyway),
and a handful replied wondering if I'm interested in a 6-12 month unpaid internship in London.
6 months full time,unpaid internship in London:
Train tickets are £400X6= £2400.
Living expenses= £700X6= £4200.
I will be £6600 in debt by the end of this work experience.
And I won't even have the time in the day to actually get another job to look after my living costs.
Yes, I will get the work experience that will help me in the future.
But I am undervalued in the sense that somebody in McDonalds with no qualification is earning the minimum wage, and I will still be in the red after 3 years of what I went through in University. This sounds harsh, but it's true. I can get the best work experience, but how will I keep a roof over my head after 5pm?
I did not go through 3 years of an intense course to make a career out of waitressing, but at the end of the day I have priorities to make a living and at least be able to enjoy the impermanent time I have here.
I did not go through 3 years of an intense course to make a career out of waitressing, but at the end of the day I have priorities to make a living and at least be able to enjoy the impermanent time I have here.
The outlook for architecture graduates in the UK is looking terribly bleak.
One of my mentors told me that during her time, she had to make a choice between 4 firms. Today, we're lucky if we're even called to be interviewed.
Do I wish that I had made the choice to go home earlier on? Frankly, when I find myself pondering if I should give up what I have now for unpaid work, I do. But I know that circumstances had made it tricky for me with the resubmission, late graduation, visa, my house, and starting again in September.
I hate to complain and be a party pooper about things like these,
but today I think it just pinched a really raw nerve.
Eargh! :( UNPAID internships? In London? :( :( Do they expect us to be born rich or what? :( :( :(
ReplyDeleteThat comparison with a McD worker kinda hit it hard. =/ It is all very, very unfortunate. But just to share with you Kimmy, it is said in our Qur'an that God will never burden one more than he can bear. So if you feel like this is all a heavier burden than what some of us go through, it is only because you're awesomer and stronger, and that you can take it head on. Honestly I do not know at what state I will be in if I was in your place. ;(
Lots of hugs and warmth from Malaysia.
I know right, 6-12 months! I read somewhere in a forum that architecture sudahlah takes the most years, and more expensive than other courses (printing, materials), now they expect to work for free it's like a course for the 'rich kids' now.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I've declined those offers. I know that there are firms out there who do pay their fresh graduates, as my friends are mostly working and earning. And if not, I would rather work for free/part time in Brighton itself! Thanks Neesah, sending some breezy wind from England(?!) :P