“It’s Not Always About Money,” Says Graduate Who Ditched Paid Internship For Unpaid

By Florence Mukunya,

Internships are the most sort after types of employment by fresh graduates, it gives them a chance of job experience which is highly considered by employers.

Rose Kioko got an internship in the industrial area and get this, the internship came with an allowance, though small it helped in paying the crazy Kenyan public transport fares and a little was left to for lunch and some niceties. Her friends were happy for her but two months down the line she shocked them when she non-dramatically announced that she was leaving her paid internship for an unpaid one.

“Why would someone sane enough do that?” they kept asking themselves.  They felt that in this hard times in Kenya, money was more important than any experience and they truly wished they were the ones in their friends position and would have stuck with the internship all through.

Ms. Kioko felt that doing what she was passionate about was more important. “It’s not always about the money. I left to go do what I loved and what I studied in school and it was a chance to learn more on my area of expertise,” she says.

She confesses that she  lives with her parents so money is not an issue for her as they cater for most of her daily needs such as food and housing.

The organization she moved to only offers tea but she does not regret anything. “I am happy and I feel that even if my previous internship offered me a million Kenyan shillings I would not take it. I wasn’t comfortable with the impact I was making, but right now, right here I feel I am making an impact on the right people.”

I talked to Paul Oduk, a HR consultant at Rose Avenue Consultant and sort his feelings and perspective on this issue.

“Such cases area unheard of because I have seen candidates quit to look for more opportunities in bigger and known companies. They also look at the scope of work they are being offered at the new company, it might not pay but more duties might be offered which increase experience.”

I asked Mr. Oduk if he we would encourage such a move especially in these hard times in Kenya and his response was…. “Yes, it’s something I would encourage because at the end of the day it’s not all about the money, if someone is moving because of passion and the company they moving to offers long term benefits then it’s ok.”

Mr. Oduk though says that he has not encountered such a case and he terms it as a one in a million case scenario. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I encountered such a candidate on my interview table which I haven’t yet, I would give them a chance but off course I would expect them to explain their reasons for leaving if they are genuine and meet the requirements I would definitely give them the job.”

In his parting shot, Mr. Oduk says “Always follow your heart if you feel that the organization you are interning for does not give you enough exposure and you find an internship that offers much more and has long term benefits such as a contract after the internship but does not pay for the actual internship go for it. He adds that, “it’s not always about the money because most of the people who are starting off are looking for experience so that they can get into better jobs.”

Finally Rose (The intern) advises that there is no need to stay in something you don’t love because of money. But she offers some caution, “Before you jump ships make sure you have a genuine interest in the field and make sure you know how to take care of your financial needs for in the end , you have to eat pay your house rent and commute to work.”

What about you, Would you make such a daring move?

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