Work Experience Argumentative Essays Samples For Students

Introduction

Welfare is the known as the provision of least required level of wellbeing and social assistance for general public. The developed countries like United States, welfare is mostly being offered by the government which is not part of charities, religious groups, informal social groups, and other intergovernmental organizations. Welfare basically replaces the term of "charity", as has been known for thousands of years, which is the voluntary act of helping. Welfare may have various forms like subsidies, monetary payments and housing. Welfare can be granted through government or nongovernmental organizations or by both. There are various social assistance programs ...

Internships are commonly seen as a crucial stepping stone for college students or recent graduates seeking to enter the professional world. Interns can gain professional skills and experience that can be difficult to access otherwise, hence preparing for future work challenges. However, unpaid internships that become increasingly common in many industries can have adverse effects on both individuals and society at large. Although unpaid internships may initially appear attractive, research shows that unpaid internships don’t adequately prepare participants for long-term employment. Therefore, their potential drawbacks should not be taken lightly by students and young adults who consider taking this path.

An analysis of survey data from spring 2019 revealed the value of internship opportunities for students transitioning to the job market. Significantly more individuals who completed a paid internship landed a job before graduation compared with those who had unpaid experience (63% vs. 37%). In fact, over one-third more people without any internships got jobs than their peers in similarly situated scenarios. Unfortunately, many organizations use unpaid interns as cheap labor, and this practice can have harmful effects on the labor market by setting low expectations or standards. Despite feeling like it is essential at times to secure internship experiences during college years, there should be no expectation that compensation must be forfeited in order to gain some skills and knowledge that might (or might not) be essential for future success.

Unpaid internships are an unfortunate reality for many, limiting the earning potential of interns down the line. It is particularly pervasive in fields such as education, arts, humanities, and health sciences. In these fields, students are especially exposed to the pressure to obtain the first necessary experience whatever it takes (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2011). However, this means that when they later get employed, their starting salaries tend to be lower than those who had paid internship experiences or even no prior internships at all (Perlin, 2012). As a result, those who accept unpaid or low-paid internships face long-term disadvantages when attempting to attain a better salary at their next job. This happens partially due to a lack of negotiation power from students undervaluing themselves during unpaid placements initially. Ultimately, it is paramount that individuals recognize they do not need to settle for a depreciated experience in order to secure valuable work knowledge within their respective fields.

Unpaid Internships May Have a Long-Term Negative Impact on the Economy

Unfavorable economic conditions may have some organizations turning to unpaid internships as a source of inexpensive labor. However, this contributes significantly to the negative trend of unpaid workers in our economy. Furthermore, research reveals that while paid internships often lead to full-time employment opportunities, only 1% of interns working without pay ever attain secure jobs with their experiences. Therefore, it is important for people considering an unpaid internship opportunity to take into account the likelihood of not merely being retained after completion but also getting reasonably paid employment thereafter. Also, within a larger economic context, such a practice may provoke wage stagnation.

Furthermore, unpaid internships create an unfair dynamic between employees and employers, potentially leading to the exploitation of young workers. By denying wages and job security to interns, organizations benefit from maximizing their profits at the expense of those attempting to build skillsets for future employment opportunities (Shellenbarger, 2009). Such unethical practices result in job insecurity among vulnerable segments of the population and demonstrate how unpaid internships disproportionately benefit employers at the expense of people receiving no monetary compensation.

Unpaid Internships Promote Discrimination

Unpaid internships can contribute to a cycle of discrimination against people from economically underprivileged segments of the population. The thing is, individuals without the means or opportunity to work in big cities and towns are largely unable to take advantage of the opportunities unpaid internship do offer (Intern Aware, 2013). This perpetuates inequality within certain businesses and organizations due to unequal access across socioeconomic backgrounds. It is important for companies that their interns receive equal treatment regardless of financial circumstances.

In turn, employers who favor providing unpaid internship opportunities put forward a variety of compelling arguments. First of all, they view such arrangements as a type of educational environment that gives interns the same learning experiences found in academic settings but with more hands-on tasks. This might be highly beneficial to interns while not replacing nor impeding existing employees or work operations. Secondly, employers claim that although training may provide useful knowledge and skillsets for individuals, it doesn’t necessarily lead directly to organizational improvements. Finally, employers contend that employee training does not support organizational activities and can sometimes obstruct companies’ operations (U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, 2010). These arguments hold weight but, unfortunately, highlight the potential for unpaid internships to further widen the socioeconomic divide, proving adverse effects on the entire society.

Other Arguments Against Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships can be a cause of financial distress for students. Since they are not receiving any form of compensation, they would have to rely on their parents or other external sources to finance their expenses. This financial burden may cause them to take on additional part-time jobs that can negatively affect their academic performance due to a lack of time and energy.

Unpaid internships can create an unfair advantage in the job market by allowing interns with more money to gain access to certain positions unavailable for lower-income candidates. For example, wealthier students can pay for expenses related to unpaid internships, which creates an unequal playing field.

Companies offering unpaid internships often exploit employees by taking away their rights as workers. Interns are typically expected to perform tasks similar in scope and complexity to those performed by full-time staff. Yet, they mostly don’t have any formal contract or protection from labor laws, such as minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.

Unpaid internships can be detrimental for both parties involved since they will give students little motivation or reward for their hard work and dedication while providing companies with free labor that could be used productively elsewhere. In turn, demotivated interns may perform their duties inadequately and harm the company’s productivity overall.

Offering unpaid internships may hinder companies’ ability to attract talent over time due to their negative perception among potential applicants. Best-qualified candidates may be discouraged from pursuing these opportunities out of concern that they won’t receive adequate compensation for their skillset, thus hurting a company’s competitiveness over time since there is a limited pool of talented candidates available for recruitment.

Conclusion

Organizations have increasingly adopted unpaid internships as a cost-saving measure, which has become the ‘new normal’ since the last economic recession – something which shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. This trend is likely to continue in the future, and employers are legally entitled not to pay interns if they don’t see value added by them. Nevertheless, companies should not rely on such a simplistic approach when it comes to compensating interns. Rather, they should exercise discretion on an individual basis when considering whether to remunerate their interns or not. On the one hand, this may help draw more potential job seekers. On the other hand, this might encourage greater engagement among existing interns in terms of increased interest and enthusiasm for their roles.

It is fully understandable for employees to deem interns as not adding any value and consequently decide against remuneration. However, employers must observe the respective merits of individual interns in order to properly identify those who make positive contributions. These productive workers ought to be given appropriate recognition through some form of gratuity or compensation. After all, it’s important to remember that while unpaid internships may have become socially acceptable in some circles, “work without pay” basically equals slavery.

Work Cited

Intern Aware. Why unpaid internships are bad for society. March 2013. Web. 13 March 2014.

http://www.internaware.org/why-unpaid-internships-are-bad-for-social-mobility/

National Association of Colleges and Employers. Unpaid Internships: A Clarification of NACE

Research. http://www.naceweb.org/s10162013/paid-internship-full-time-employment.aspx

Perlin, Ross. Intern nation: how to earn nothing and learn little in the brave new economy, 1st ed. Brooklyn, NY: Verso Books, 2012.

Shellenbarger, Sue. “Do You Want An Internship? It’ll Cost You”. The Wall Street Journal. 28, Jan. 2009. Web. 13 March 2014. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123310699999022549?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB123310699999022549.html

U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act. April 2010. Web. 13 March 2014. http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.pdf

The phrase “drug testing” indicates the examination of biological products to locate drugs along with their metabolites within the human body. Tests for urine are very common along with hair, saliva and sweat. Breath tests are common in case of alcohol . The impact of the degeneration of society can be felt in recent times in various aspects of the lives of individuals, including the workplace. The use and abuse of drugs has become increasingly common in the workplace in order to cope with anxiety and stress. As a result, employers resort their staff to frequent urinalysis tests to counter the ...

Today's education system has forever changed the way young men and women go about their academic and work careers. In earlier eras, students would enter the job world immediately after school, and many colleges and universities were out of reach for lower and middle-class Americans. However, now that the job market has become much more competitive, the American academic experience has dictated that students go directly to college after graduating high school. While this is now the norm, it is not the ideal: students experience burnout, and they do not get valuable life experience that they need to survive ...

Studying abroad has recently become pretty popular and efficient. There are many international students visiting the county for many reasons. I am able to learn the English language, undergrad and Master program. Therefore, there are many of them visiting the county year by year in order to earn their degree.
Even though there are number of international students since September 11, 2001. On the other hand, the number of American international students increased over past years. The current survey by the Institute of International Education (IIE), in 2003 and 2004, 191,321 American students attended international study abroad ...

The issues surrounding welfare have created several positions surrounding it. Recently ideas about drug testing and jobs have been in the forefront of social conciseness (Morrison). Some argue that we need more lax guidelines to qualify for welfare. Much of America remains below the poverty level and are in need of assistance. Those in favor of more lax rules fear that by making it harder to receive welfare that many will be discriminated against and proper aid will not be allowed to those who depend on welfare for financial survival (Gilens 89). Many recipients of welfare are minorities, mothers, ...

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has caused serious disruption to the lives of young people throughout the world. Many students, who were looking forward to studying abroad, have experienced massive disappointment as they see their dreams dissolve due to pandemic restrictions and canceled courses. However, travel limitations are becoming softer, and, with time, they will be lifted completely. In this blog post, we explore the benefits that studying abroad can bring to college, university, and postgraduate students.

According to NAFSA, over 160.000 American students studied abroad in 2019-2020, marking a 53% decline from previous years due to COVID. The vast majority of students – 57,9% – study in Europe, with Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Ireland being the most popular countries. Latin America is in second place, hosting 13,4%; Asia holds the third place, with 9,1% of students attending educational institutions there.

Studying abroad can bring a world of possibilities to college and university students. It is an enriching and life-changing experience that has the potential to transform a person’s personal, intellectual, professional, and social life. The time frame of studying abroad can range from several months to several years for dedicated students in search of knowledge and skills. Apparently, not all participants achieve the same level of success from this experience; some may even find their studies abroad inconsequential. Nevertheless, studying in an international setting offers a unique opportunity that encourages development on multiple levels beyond those provided by traditional learning environments.

On the one hand, studying abroad offers students a unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, insight, and experiences from other cultures. On the other hand, studying in a foreign country is inevitably accompanied by tangible struggles, both personal and professional. As a result, some students may question whether this journey is worth taking. The key factor here is that in contrast with studying at home, the cultural diversity in foreign countries can shape a student’s learning process enormously and provide opportunities that are unavailable domestically. Therefore, it is worth considering studying abroad as an invaluable part of any education journey as it can serve as an incentive towards success and future growth. So, let’s take a closer look at the benefits going to another country to study might bring to virtually any student.

For starters, studying abroad may offer students valuable opportunities to gain language proficiency and experience new cultures. Hopkins (1993) claims: “Study abroad programs take many forms, but all share the characteristic that, by their very nature, they provide students with a healthy dose of experiential learning. Immersing oneself in another culture provides new opportunities for learning.” However, this notion was challenged by the NAFSA: Association of International Educators. During the organization’s International Conference in May 2010, it issued a proposal which said that who proposed that simply changing location might not cause sufficient exposure and does not guarantee that local experiences will have an immediate impact on a student’s development. According to NAFSA, motivation and a particular student’s personality are essential for successful adaptation to a new culture. In other words, extrovert students adjust more comfortably, while introverts may have a hard time socializing abroad. As a result, international students’ experiences can be vast in range. Some return home with strong language, cultural and social skills. Others, unfortunately, experience no benefit due to a lack of exposure or an apathetic attitude to local environments. On the positive side, most international students are eager to learn new things and willing to explore – or even embrace – both foreign languages and cultures.

Powerful language learning opportunities become available during studying abroad as it provides both a classroom and cultural context for immediate practice. Instead of relying on a common belief that living situations and contacts with native media are key to improved proficiency, the research by Sieloff Magnan, S. Back, M. (2008) shows that academic settings are a viable option for progress in second-language acquisition. They report that even short, semester-long programs are capable of promoting meaningful language gains through interaction both within the classroom setting and outside it while engaging natives in conversations. As a result, studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to develop language skills in an immersive and practical way rather than simply learning through textbooks or courses.

Next, studying abroad offers a range of intercultural benefits, including increased understanding and appreciation for other cultures as well as one’s own. It further encourages students to view the world in more sophisticated ways and unlocks the potential for long-term impacts on personal development, even if these advantages may not be immediately visible. This benefit is closely connected to the next one – career development.

Empirical research has attested to the fact that studying abroad offers invaluable advantages to a student’s career development. A 2007-2008 study conducted by Trooboff, Van Deberg, and Rayman concluded that the majority of employers strongly appreciate international experience when assessing applicants. Hence, it can be inferred that studying abroad is likely to have an enduring impact on advancing one’s professional journey. One of the factors most valued by prospective employers is that during their studies abroad, students can gain priceless confidence and the necessary tools to become self-sufficient. This experience can make an impact on their CV and help them stand out when applying for postgraduate jobs. Nevertheless, it is true that job opportunities may be scarce due to intense competition from highly qualified candidates in today’s tough economy. The reason behind this is that studying abroad offers many professional development opportunities, such as honing critical thinking and data analyzing skills, adaptability, problem solving, effectively working under pressure, and operating outside their comfort zone. On the flip side, returning home after gaining foreign work experience could make it challenging to resettle in one’s country of origin due to the detachment from local industry standards.

Still, many employers highly value individuals who have studied abroad, as they are typically viewed to be more independent and possess greater career-building skills. A student returning from an overseas experience is often perceived to demonstrate higher responsibility in the workplace alongside increased readiness for any arising challenge. Furthermore, the type of degree attained while abroad may give an individual a competitive edge over peers with similar academic credentials earned domestically.

Another benefit of studying abroad in terms of the job market is cultivating an international perspective and honing skills that differentiate them. For example, living among different cultural groups can equip individuals with interpersonal abilities, which are highly valued by employers.

ORDER CUSTOM PAPER

Ultimately, studying abroad presents numerous advantages that far outweigh any corresponding challenges. Through firsthand experience with the culture, language, and environment of a foreign country, students gain valuable knowledge and skills for their personal development as well as future professional prospects. Consequently, enrolling in an overseas study program is likely to provide worthwhile remunerations on all fronts: social life; academic success; intellectual maturity; cultural awareness, among many other benefits. Studying abroad offers a unique, life-changing experience that cannot be matched by staying home. It allows students to develop independence and confidence while engaging with different cultures and learning from a global viewpoint – skills integral for future success both personally and professionally.

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID restrictions, many students are unable to take advantage of studying abroad and gaining new skills. But the restrictions won’t last forever; they will be lifted sooner or later, giving young people a chance to grab an excellent opportunity to enhance their expertise. In the meantime, college and university students who don’t want to wait can benefit from virtual programs, distance learning, online courses, and other digital-based solutions. Thus, when studying abroad becomes available again, students will have a competitive edge over other contestants.

References

Hopkins, J. R. (1999). Studying Abroad as a Form of Experiential Education. Liberal Education. P.85, 34-6.
Sieloff, Magnan, S. Black, M. (2008) Social Interaction and Linguistic Gain During Study Abroad, Foreign Language Annals. 40/1, p43-61.
Pellegrino Aveni, V. A. (1998). Student Perspectives on Language Learning in a Study Abroad Context. (available online): http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&q=frontiers pellegrino &btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
Trooboff, S., Van Deberg, M., and Rayman, J. (2007-2008) Employers Attitudes Towards study Abroad (available online): http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf
Just how are Students Different After Study Abroad. NAFSA International Conference (May 2010). Kansas City, MO. (available online): http://proposals.nafsa.org/Abstract_Uploads/1410.61212.GS028.pdf
Kim, Y. Y. (1991). Intercultural Communication Competence: A Systems-theoretic View. P.259-275.