Should Student Placements Be Paid?

Currently writing my critical journal based on student placements and payment decided to ask Dave Sedgewick of 999 Design whether he had any opinions on this matter 


 "I’m a firm believer that students and of course graduates should attempt to undertake some work experience if possible. My suggestion is to try and get this sorted whilst still in University. If you can organise it with your tutor so that they don’t mind you being off for a week or two, then that’s got to be better than sorting it during holidays, weekends or when you finish. That way the issue of cash isn’t too much of a concern as you’re learning, but you don’t have to be in University! So you probably don’t need the cash as much. Probably. The whole thing about money is a really touchy subject for everyone concerned. I can completely understand the whole rationale that you shouldn’t devalue yourself and work for nothing. 


But with that said, more often than not whenever we get placements in for a week or two or even three, a lot of the time we give them older briefs or less difficult things to be working on. We certainly wouldn’t expect them to complete a brief from start to finish on their own. So in that way, we aren’t really getting too much out of them being there (read this as we aren’t getting any money for them being there). That’s the harsh reality. The students get much more out of it than the agency does. However, if a student excels, fits in and finds themselves working on one or two more current projects (just depends on timing) and makes more than their fair share of tea, then we have been known to offer some compensation for travel and lunch. There’s no hard and fast rule at the end of the day. It just boils down to how the student feels about the possibility of working for free. Good luck to you if you feel you can tell any agency that doesn’t pay to stick their placement. 


The sad fact is, there’s always another ‘you’ just about to ring up or email and they’ll be more than happy to take up a desk space for free. At the end of the day, agencies really don’t have to offer any placements. We often do it, simply to ‘give a little back’. Take on placements, stick to a few weeks. If it’s for longer, then they probably should pay. If you have to travel for miles, think again. If you have to pay to stay in a hostel or hotel type place. Then, seriously, think again. Don’t just do a billion and one placements for the sake of it. Stagger them. Think about doing them during University. Don’t expect to get paid. Be happy if you do. Don’t get upset if you don’t. Steal something (fonts or the like, not a computer!). Look interested. Look bothered. Look and learn. Listen. Make tea again and again. And last but not least. Relax and enjoy it. You probably will be remembered and you never know when you might need to be remembered!"