on the bullshit that is an unpaid internship

i work in an industry that, since the recession, has made use of unpaid internships. it probably always has, but it has gotten really bad now. last summer i had an internship with just one semester of school under my belt, and i got a pretty fair stipend for my work. but over the spring, i held two internships where i was not even given travel expenses. technically, i paid the $4 commute to work - for free. internships are for learning about an industry, gaining experience, and for the resume. under normal economic conditions, they are also used to perhaps get a foot in the door and eventually get hired at the company. now it's a real damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. most people are willing to take these unpaid internships because there are no available paid jobs. and if they don't, there are 10 other people willing to take their place. so what are we to do, if we want to remain in this industry? it is either an unpaid internship or leaving the industry to find a paid position elsewhere. last month i felt myself getting to the end of my rope with this whole unpaid thing. i know in the past, people could have gotten hired with just one internship. i have now completed three internships and this summer, will be taking on # 4 and 5. i certainly have enough experience to warrant a paid position, but no one is willing. an internship i initially accepted under the conditions of working 2-3 days a week came back at me, wanting me to work full-time. for free. 40 hours a week, probably more, for nothing. i have witnessed first-hand how certain companies totally abuse what is already an offense. it is DISGUSTING for a 9 person design studio to have 8 interns running around. it is likewise reprehensible to have intern emails as intern1, intern2 etc, numbering into the 10s and 20s. i have about reached the end of what an intern can learn, doing intern duties. but i am stuck. and then my dear friend sent me this article, which made my blood boil.

ugh

given i don't know what the situation is like in england, but some of those comments by asswad architects really made my head explode. this unpaid shit should be illegal. i will see if a PAID position develops over the summer. if not, i really don't have any choice but to leave the industry, at least for a little while.