Higher status alternatives to the word 'intern'?

Question

Are there higher status (or at least 'better-sounding', more CV-ready) alternatives to the word 'intern'? At least in the UK, being an intern is perceived as low status, with connotations of being the person who makes the coffee. It also looks less impressive on a CV.

(The context which I'm searching in is that the charities I work for are offering internships of two to ten months. We provide accommodation and food/travel expenses, but this is closer to volunteering than employment. Many of our 'interns' have just graduated from elite universities, and they do relatively high-level and interesting work such as research. So it would be nice to call them something other than 'interns'.)

Answer 1

Intern is a pretty nondescript job rôle. If they are volunteers, call them volunteers. It is just as descriptive, and has the added bonus of being a net gain in the game of social climbing. (Interns are there for themselves, volunteers are there to help others.)

If your volunteers will have particular rôles then call them "volunteer X", e.g. "volunteer barista". Otherwise, there's only so many ways to put lipstick on a pig.

Answer 2

The job title does not have to reflect the salary they do or don't take, just give them a title of assistant of some kind.

I would still use Intern in the job advert (because it appears that is what the job is), but when they start working, and you don't want them to face unfair discrimination, then change the job title.

Answer 3

I'm sure this is a bit late, but in my work we use the word "fellow," as in a fellowship. From my experience managing interns, they have a terrible time getting people to call them back when they have the "intern" title.