Starting Fresh With an Unpaid Internship

Three months after getting laid off from a small visual-effects company in February, Beki Gibney started working again—as an unpaid intern.

“It feels weird being an intern at my age after five years of working,” says Ms. Gibney, 28 years old. “It takes a stab at my pride some days.”

Internships—temporary positions that pay little or no salary—are typically designed for college students or recent graduates exploring potential career paths. But with unemployment at 9.5%, some older laid-off workers are taking on these stints to stay busy, gain new skills and expand their networks. In the meantime, they continue to job hunt and, in some cases, collect unemployment benefits.

By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN

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