For all you eager to get into programming

[piezoe]

I recall that internships in Germany are generally unpaid or very lowly paid. Even top internships at investment or commercial banks paid around 750 euros for 3 months plus food allowance, lol. It was a while ago but I know so personally because I interned during my master program in the US and applied for internships in NY and Boston and also in Germany. Got offers from several banks in Germany at above mentioned rate while the same length internships in the US paid annualized 50k,so, several thousand per month for the duration of the internship. Needless to say I went with one of the latter.

Unless one is forced to, one should never consider direct financial compensation when deciding whether to accept one particular internship versus another (regardless of the field of endeavor). The decision should always be based on other grounds, ignoring the immediate compensation. I offer this very good advice knowing that it will be ignored by nearly everyone, possibly even everyone.

 

[FreeGoldRush]

Unless one is forced to, one should never consider direct financial compensation when deciding whether to accept one particular internship versus another (regardless of the field of endeavor). The decision should always be based on other grounds, ignoring the immediate compensation. I offer this very good advice knowing that it will be ignored by nearly everyone, possibly even everyone.

So long as the work is in your field you need to find the opportunity that values what you do and is able to leverage it. Demonstrating that you found someone that can't find value in your work can work against you.

 

[M.W.]

I never suggested that it should be the only metric. But for graduate students, especially those with work experience, it is pure abuse to let them toil 8-12 hours a day for 3 months straight and throwing some pittance at then. If the employer already treats interns like that then how do they treat their customers or full time staff? Or what does this say about the learning experience for interns?

Unless one is forced to, one should never consider direct financial compensation when deciding whether to accept one particular internship versus another (regardless of the field of endeavor). The decision should always be based on other grounds, ignoring the immediate compensation. I offer this very good advice knowing that it will be ignored by nearly everyone, possibly even everyone.

 

[piezoe]

I never suggested that it should be the only metric. But for graduate students, especially those with work experience, it is pure abuse to let them toil 8-12 hours a day for 3 months straight and throwing some pittance at then. If the employer already treats interns like that then how do they treat their customers or full time staff? Or what does this say about the learning experience for interns?

Early in a career there are things far more important than compensation; yet I know that most everyone will be swayed by compensation rather than the considerations they should be giving the most weight to... as a matter of fact, compensation may be in some instances inversely related to the value of an internship.

 

[M.W.]

The last statement of yours hardly ever applies. But it does exist, can't deny it.

Early in a career there are things far more important than compensation; yet I know that most everyone will be swayed by compensation rather than the considerations they should be giving the most weight to... as a matter of fact, compensation may be in some instances inversely related to the value of an internship.