Question:  I am a college student, and I have not yet held any full-time jobs.  On my current resume, I describe my internships as “unpaid.”  Is this correct?

Answer:  That is technically correct.  However, it may not be the most compelling way to describe your experience.

I have a similar issue with volunteers in certain contexts.  The operative question is, “Did you do the work?”  If the answer is “yes,” then I would not use the resume to flag compensation issues.  Your prospective employer will find out soon enough, likely in an interview, which positions commanded a salary and which did not.  However, this should not detract from the analysis of the skills you either acquired or displayed.

By calling attention to the fact that your internship was “unpaid,” you undermine it.  In our culture, pay equals worth.  By underscoring lack of compensation, you diminish your work.  Err on the side of listing it as an “internship” without qualification.  Let the interview process reveal the financial details.

Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.

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