It’s National Intern Day — Celebrate Interns Across The Country

Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern in the 1990s, infamously known for her affair with then President Bill Clinton, had some thoughts about National Intern Day.

Making jokes at her own expense, Lewinsky tweeted “#NationalInternDay cannot. believe. that. is. a thing. *exit stage left*.”

#NationalInternDay
cannot. believe. that. is. a. thing.
*exit stage left*
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

— Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) July 26, 2018

National Intern Day, created by WayUp, is a day to encourage employers to celebrate and empower interns all across America. It’s also a time to recognizes that interns, spending the same amount of hours as full time employees, are still not always being paid for their hard work and meaningful contributions to the workplace — for months at a time.

On #NationalInternDay, let’s remember: experience doesn’t and won’t ever pay the bills. Interns deserve to be paid for the value they add to an organization. Without fair pay, internship opportunities are limited to students who can afford to offset the costs of working for free.

— Elena (@e_vern23) July 26, 2018

In honor of #NationalInternDay I wrote a story about unpaid internships and diversity on Capitol Hill : https://t.co/GN8i3STfhF

— Sydney McLane (@sudd3nlyyy) July 26, 2018

Internships are an essential step for young professionals, to help jump start their careers in their respective industries. WayUP encourages companies nationwide to host a special celebration for your interns and post on social media using the hashtag #NationalInternDay.

It’s #NationalInternDay so I’m bringing this back up. Take out the time to read up on why all interns should be paid, no exceptions. https://t.co/e4bwl89Pcf

— X (@XLNB) July 26, 2018

In most cases, unpaid internships favor affluent students. Without offering pay, or at least a stipend to cover travel and food — you’re putting students, of underprivileged backgrounds at a significant loss, robbing them of opportunities to further their growth because they can’t afford to advance on their own.

On this #NationalInternDay we want to make sure orgs and companies know the true cost of an unpaid internship. If you compensate your interns say it loud and say it proud “We #PayOurInterns” pic.twitter.com/fLUegUIARD

— Pay Our Interns (@payourinterns) July 26, 2018

It goes without saying; but employers — show your interns a lot of extra love today! Interns, continue to push forward and make your mark. You never know who is looking up to you, and the path that you could help pave for someone coming after you. Your work does not go unnoticed.