Why MBA Students Should Embrace Internships, Even If They’re Unpaid and During the School Year

As an MBA student, your time is incredibly valuable. Between classes, group projects, recruiting events, networking, and having a life, adding an internship during the school year—especially one that might not be paid—might seem like a questionable choice. After all, shouldn’t an advanced degree guarantee paid opportunities?

At Trylrun, we see MBA internships differently. Even unpaid roles can deliver outsized returns—returns that can shape your career trajectory, expand your network, and unlock opportunities you might otherwise miss. Here’s why you should think twice before dismissing an unpaid internship.

Real-World Experience Beats Classroom Case Studies

Your MBA program equips you with frameworks, strategies, and a powerful toolkit. But applying those concepts in a live business environment is a whole different game.

An internship—paid or unpaid—lets you:

• Solve actual business problems with real consequences

• See how strategy translates to execution

• Build confidence in decision-making under real-world constraints

These are the kinds of practical skills that can’t be replicated in the classroom and will make you far more compelling to future employers. Interning during the school year also speaks to your drive and commitment to growth, making you a standout candidate.

Career Switching? An MBA Internship Is Your Fast Track

If you’re using your MBA to pivot industries or functions, employers will often look for evidence that you can apply your skills in that new space.

An internship can:

• Provide proof of concept that you can excel in your target field

• Give you relevant stories and results to talk about in interviews

• Allow you to “test drive” a role or industry before committing full-time

Internships during the school year are a great way to get more work experience under your belt within the relatively short window of time when you’re a student. After all, if you do a summer internship and find that you don’t want to continue down the path you initially expected, school year internships provide additional opportunities to clarify your desired career path before you graduate and look for a full-time job. On the flipside, internships during the school year can also help you figure out what kind of summer internship you want to pursue and accept an offer for. 

For many career changers, the short-term trade-off in pay leads to a long-term payoff in opportunity.

Building a Network That Opens Doors

Business school is already a networking goldmine, but internships connect you with a different layer of professional contacts: working practitioners in your target field.

Even without a salary, you’re being paid in access—to mentors, leaders, and peers who can:

• Offer references or recommendations

• Alert you to unposted job openings

• Invite you into future collaborations or ventures

Often, these connections prove more valuable than the paycheck you might pass up in the short term.

Leveraging Academic Credit and Flexibility

Many universities give academic credit for internships that meet certain criteria, and some programs even require students to hold an internship to graduate, so you’re progressing toward your degree while gaining experience. 

Additionally, many internships during the school year, such as those through Trylrun, are remote and part-time, with flexible hours, so they’re generally more accessible and manageable than full-time internships during the summer. 

Sometimes Unpaid Today Means Paid Tomorrow

We’ve seen it happen countless times: an unpaid internship turns into a paid project, contract, or even a full-time job offer. Why?

Because once you’ve proven your value, companies are far more willing to invest in you. In many cases, the internship is simply the gateway.

Making It Worthwhile

When pursuing internships, be strategic:

• Choose companies where you can make a visible impact (startups and small businesses are often ideal)

• Negotiate for value beyond pay, like flexible hours, introductions to key contacts, or work that aligns with your dream role

• Track your results so you can speak to tangible achievements in future interviews

Final Word from Trylrun

At Trylrun, we regularly match MBA students with part-time internships at innovative startups and small businesses. As UCLA Anderson MBA students ourselves, past and present, we’ve been through the job hunt ourselves, and can attest first-hand what a difference internships make.

We’ve also made it easy for students to intern during the school year. Check out the part-time internship opportunities available to you now.