What do I do?
I graduated from grad school (masters) a year ago. I took the summer off and started job searching around October 2025. I wasn’t able to find a position until March of this year. While it’s in my field, it’s in an area I don’t really enjoy.
About three weeks ago, I interviewed for what is probably the closest thing to my dream job that exists in my state. At this point, I’m starting to think I didn’t get it. This is actually the second role I’ve interviewed for with this company, where I also previously interned. Every time I meet with them, they seem genuinely happy to see me and tell me they’d love to have me work there, but I never end up getting an offer.
I feel confident that I interview well, but ultimately I’m still competing as a new grad, which makes things difficult.
If (feels more like a when at this point) I get the official rejection, I’m considering asking whether they’d take me on as a full-time unpaid intern just so I can gain experience and hopefully create a path into the company long term. I still live with my parents and don’t have major expenses, so financially I could manage not working for a while, even though it obviously wouldn’t be ideal.
Am I crazy for considering this?
TLDR: Am I crazy for considering leaving a good paying job to work as a full time unpaid intern in hopes of setting myself up better for the future?