Trivialising unpaid internships helps masquerade free work as an annoying, if inevitable, first rung on the career ladder. Because of this we risk the practice becoming the norm and contaminating other career fields until it is an utterly essential part of 'working' life.

It's a tough time to be an intern at the moment. Though the number and range of internships in the UK have increased considerably in the last few years, a staggering one in three interns are working for nothing. Zilch. Nada.

As students it should be our prerogative to gain an education in both academic and practical terms, simultaneously if at all possible, feng-sui'ing your time like one is expected to, and the rewards will pay off as you find yourself a head higher and job titles further than your fellow graduates.