Adam Ruins Everything - Why Most Internships Are Actually Illegal

Adam explains how companies use internships as a way to exploit young people for free labor.

In Adam Ruins Everything, host Adam Conover employs a combination of comedy, history and science to dispel widespread misconceptions about everything we take for granted. A blend of entertainment and enlightenment, Adam Ruins Everything is like that friend who knows a little bit too much about everything and is going to tell you about it... whether you like it or not. 

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Adam Ruins Everything - Why Most Internships Are Actually Illegal

[TeachHiddenInTheLeaves]

As someone who has worked as an unpaid intern at numerous places for over a year in the entertainment industry, and STILL does not have an entry-level job in the industry, this video is spot on.

[bryan]

And college course require internships...greeaat

[mc-ps-playa]

"If you're good at something, never do it for free"

[ciannacoleman]

As an art student in college we were always told (as are students in other departments at my school) never to accept free internships, only paid ones.

[JustNicole]

I had an unpaid internship and I ended up doing more work than anyone in my department. I honestly could've been in charge of the entire team at that point. I finally had enough and basically told them I won't continue if I don't get some sort of compensation... they only said that they would offer me a job after I graduated but other than that they couldn't pay me as an intern..AMUUURICAAAA

[lol]

Are internships actually unpaid in the U.S.? The horror.

[nonamesleft]

Unpaid internships are part of the problem with journalism's conglomerates. Massive supply of students, low demand of actual jobs. Not surprising those jobs now require extensive unpaid labor equivalent to a reporter.

Not only is it crippling the industry, but it limits who can get into the field and who's getting your news. Lot more kids from wealthy parents and fewer minorities.

[Ian-eijy]

unpaid internships are still a thing? I've had a couple internships but they were paid

[TheGreatMoonFrog]

I did this co-op nonsense which in theory is a summer job found by your school that is supposed to teach you relatable skills. In reality it was hard manual labour. I had to wade around swamps raking huge matts of aquatic invasive plants. We often had to haul them onshore onto giant rotting compost matts. Not just raking though. I learnt a wide variety of skills including  pitchforking, picking things up,  poking other things with a stick and disassociating from my mind so my body works while my mind can be somewhere else.

[ntdever]

My internship was unpaid. It was only for 6 weeks, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I think they said something that they can't give me money. Instead, they got me a camera, flowers, and a letter of recommendation at the end of my internship.
6 Months after, they called me back and asked me if I wanted to work there as a part time job. Then they kept on extending my contract till the end of the summer.
(They never asked me to bring coffee or anything. It was more like me cleaning up their work that they don't have time to do and later practically becoming one of them)

[luyllyestrada]

"I can't afford to work here." I feel you dude.

[LittlePinchofGinger]

In Denmark not all interns are paid by the company: Most interns are part of an educational-system, where they get paid by the state for working temporarily as an intern while educating themselves..Also, the firm has to prove that they do teach the intern valid skills, they even have to send in a report to the state, to prove that the skillsets and assignments the interns get are useful. Other "full-time" interns, mostly those who are trying to become "work professionals" like woodworkers, house builders, shop assistants and such, are paid a decent salary by the firm they work for, and the firm pays ALL of their education at the same time. To be an intern without getting ANY money for all the work is absolutely ludicrous!

[aishu]

I've only ever done paid internships. I feel really bad for people who had to do an unpaid one, even though young people shouldn't be entitled and feel like they deserve their dream career straight away, they should still realise that their time and effort issss valuable because of all the potential they could bring to the company

[Tunade]

I had to take an internship while I was in high school cause I was taking child development. It sucked. The only thing I learned there was I hate kids more now.

[thenhewonders]

THEY USED SIMS 3 MUSIC AGAIN LOL LISTEN CLOSELY AT 2:10

[ray]

Honestly, I think internships are a scam and waste of time. At the same time you could of gotten an internships and applying throughout the year, you could of learned a skill such as programming or some form of accounting while working a part time job. Like college, internships are just a scam from these institutions.

[se]

I've never even heard of an unpaid internship. When I was going to school, the minimum pay for an internship was $18/hour.

[AnimeLova]

The background music was from sims... Weird thing is I'm playing sims and the same music came on... Trippy.

[primemaxx]

How many interns at truTV get paid or actually end up working for them

[dechha]

In Australia we have something called “Work experience”. It’s like interns but you actually get paid.