An Intern At 40-Something, And 'Paid In Hugs'
As the job market improves and people are trying to get back to work, more older workers in their 40s and 50s are signing on for internships. It may pay off, but it can come with some difficult tradeoffs.
For Renee Killian, 50, it has meant working an unpaid stint alongside fellow interns who are less than half her age. Killian's dayside duties at the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., often involve making sure the response trucks are properly stocked with blankets, water bottles and cleaning kits. At night, she is a volunteer on call. And she's not earning a dime.
"And right now I go out and I'm not being paid for anything, but I do get paid in hugs, and so that's a big thing for me," she says.
It's a line of work this 47-year-old former police officer adores. After losing her job managing a marina, she opted to intern alongside George Washington University undergrads.