The Case for Taking Unpaid Internships
"Don't work for free" seems like a pretty sensible idea. In general, you should not do work for a for-profit entity without getting paid.
An unpaid internship, however, can be the rare exception to that rule. In some professions, unpaid internships allow you to gain needed skills or open doors that otherwise would remain closed. That's not always the case, but for many people working for free has led to a paying job, or gaining the skills needed to land one.
In the right situation, an unpaid internship is a bit like getting a scholarship to play a sport. You don't get paid directly, but you do get a free education in exchange for the work you provide.
Source: Fool.com