Unpaid internships are back in the news. An acquaintance of mine just landed his dream internship in a Boston venture capital firm. The catch is he not only accepted an unpaid internship but also offered to pay for his own travel expenses during the course of his internship.

The number of unpaid internships has grown, and so too have opinions on whether the free summer help is a good thing. Unfortunately, some naysayers have come out quite negatively in the press.

Unpaid internships are a win-win proposition in a tight economy. There is no longer a stigma over not paying the summer help. In fact, in a tight job market, business schools are encouraging companies to help out students this summer and provide training. With fewer interns able to find jobs, the free training is important. Otherwise, when the economy picks up, companies will find it harder to find qualified job candidates. So why not train them now for when the economy rebounds?

Unpaid interns can be bolder in their job search strategies.

Ask for more informational interviews. You are in the driver’s seat. Find out what the company has to offer you in exchange for your free labor.

Do not forget the perks. Companies should be creative in thinking up alternative ways to reward their summer help. Lunch once a week with an associate, or even higher up, would be an attractive offer.

Do not forget the written reference letter. Many interns go in and out during summer holidays. Ask for a written reference. When you need to use the reference, send your reference a copy of the letter to remind her of all your great attributes – and of who you are.