Jackie Garcia-Morales quit her full-time position as a publishing associate in April 2025 after feeling a persistent sense of unease. Her former company soon announced it was closing, but she found herself unemployed in a competitive industry. At 31, she accepted an unpaid internship, becoming the oldest intern in the office.
The experience marked a stark departure from her previous role dealing with Netflix celebrities. Rather than view her age as a disadvantage, she drew inspiration from younger coworkers and adopted what she calls the "intern mindset." This shift in perspective allowed her to approach networking with renewed energy and humility.
During the internship, Garcia-Morales set up over 80 informational interviews and networking calls. The effort required systematic outreach and persistence. Each conversation helped her refine her career goals and build relationships in her target field.
Her strategy ultimately paid off: she landed what she describes as her dream job. The outcome suggests that nontraditional career paths, including stepping backward into unpaid roles, can yield significant long-term rewards for those willing to embrace temporary discomfort.
Critics argue unpaid internships perpetuate economic inequality, as they are only accessible to those with financial support or savings. Garcia-Morales's path required a high tolerance for risk and financial instability that not every job seeker can afford.