Ethereal Networks:
Unpaid College Internship Policy
Purpose
Ethereal Networks offers unpaid internships via Handshake to college students who want to gain hands-on experience in the media and streaming industry. Our internships are designed primarily as a learning experience, not as a job. The purpose is for students to gain knowledge, skills, mentorship, and to satisfy college or university requirements for internships that support their education and career goals.
This policy follows the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines for unpaid internships at for-profit companies.
1. Educational Focus
The internship is structured around learning — not labor.
Interns receive training and mentorship similar to what they would receive in a classroom or academic setting.
Interns may observe real production processes, contribute to creative projects under supervision, and learn professional tools and workflows.
Tasks assigned are meant to teach and enhance skills, not to replace the work of paid staff.
2. Academic Connection
The internship must be connected to the student’s education program through their college or university.
Students are encouraged (and in many cases required) to receive academic credit for their internship.
The internship schedule is arranged so students can meet all their academic obligations — for example, class attendance or exams.
3. No Expectation of Pay
Interns clearly understand before starting that this internship is unpaid.
There are no promises or implications of wages, stipends, or other compensation.
Any form of payment would change the legal status of the intern to an employee, which this program is not.
4. Limited Duration
The internship lasts only as long as the student is gaining meaningful learning benefits.
The typical duration aligns with a college semester or summer term, but may vary depending on the student’s program or project scope.
5. No Job Guarantee
Completing an internship with Ethereal Networks does not guarantee future employment.
Students may apply for paid roles in the future, but the internship itself is not a trial period or audition for a job.
6. Complementary Work
Interns may assist with real projects, but their work supports and complements the efforts of paid employees — it does not replace them.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that interns’ assignments remain educational in nature.
7. Mutual Understanding
-
Applying to intern at Ethereal Networks, both the intern and Ethereal Networks, agrees to an Internship Agreement confirming:
The internship is unpaid.
It is primarily for the student’s benefit.
There is no entitlement to a paid job afterward.
The intern participates voluntarily and can end the internship at any time.
8. Supervision and Mentorship
Each intern is assigned a supervising mentor who provides guidance, feedback, and regular check-ins.
Mentors are responsible for helping interns understand industry practices and gain relevant skills.
9. Compliance and Documentation
Ethereal Networks maintains documentation of:
Each intern’s school enrollment and academic connection.
The job you applied for and were hired for via Handshake acts as an official internship agreement outlining the terms of the job.
A clear training plan or learning objectives.
This documentation ensures the internship remains compliant with federal labor laws and protects both the student and the company.
10. Questions or Concerns
Students or parents with questions about the internship program or this policy may contact Ethereal Networks’ HR or Internship Program Coordinator.
We encourage open communication to make sure each internship remains a safe, valuable, and lawful learning experience.
Summary for Parents and Students
This internship is:
For education and experience, not income.
Supervised and structured for learning, not production.
Flexible around school schedules.
Temporary and ends when the learning experience does.
Conducted with no promise of future employment.
If the internship ever starts functioning more like a job than a learning experience, Ethereal Networks will review and adjust it immediately to stay within federal law.