Internships are widely perceived as enhancing career prospects, and many students and newbies are willing to work for free to gain experience. However, unpaid internships have been criticized for being exploitative and excluding individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford to work unpaid. Amid this debate, Kinzil Mathur, Chief Marketing Officer of American software services company Squarespace, has been criticized for advocating unpaid internships.
In an interview with Fortune, Kinzil Mathur spoke about the many unpaid internships she undertook that ultimately launched her successful career. She recalled getting her first job, without pay, by calling companies and asking if they had openings. She added: “I was willing to work for free and I was willing to work the hours required.”
Eventually, one internship led to another and she landed a job at a high-paying company. Based on her experience, Kinzil-Masar said, “You really have to be willing to do anything. Any hours, any salary, any type of work. Just be open to it.” She also complained about the high demands of “Generation Z,” saying, “The list of standards for someone graduating or in college today is very long.”
Now, these statements are drawing a lot of flak. X user sums up Kinzil Mathur’s interview like this: “My labor is being exploited and now I’m in a position to make a change. So I want to enforce barriers to entry into the workforce because I’m a total thug.”
Another wrote: “Maybe I should just get Squarespace to host my website for free then. Or better yet, stop paying them and start paying people who respect the work of their employees.”
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Another wrote: “This is a ridiculous concept that 1) only works if you come from a wealthy family that can support you during this time, and 2) is modern-day slavery.”
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Both of Kinzil Massar’s parents work in STEM fields. Her father is an engineer and her mother is a medical professional, according to Vogue magazine. She has worked for companies such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Conde Nast. Since joining site hosting platform Squarespace in 2017, she has led campaigns such as the company’s Super Bowl 2022 ad.
Both of Kinzil Massar’s parents work in STEM fields. Her father is an engineer and her mother is a medical professional, according to Vogue magazine. She has worked for companies such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Conde Nast. Since joining site hosting platform Squarespace in 2017, she has led campaigns such as the company’s Super Bowl 2022 ad.
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First published: 24 July 2024 17:32 IST
