Four Signs Your Internship Isn’t the Real Thing
Posted on July 21st, 2010 in Students | 2 Comments »
By Elizabeth Rice
For any student that aspires to have a well-paying and fulfilling career, internships are often a highway to that goal. Not only does an internship give you experience but also a leg up for the cut-throat job market. However, the notion of “internship” is sometimes taken for granted and may not be much of an internship at all. Here are a few signs that your internship might just be cheap labor for the company.
1.) You have no set schedule: Keep in mind that this does depend on the industry, but in general, your employer should have some sort of set schedule for you. If you find that your boss is asking you every week for your availability, or worse isn’t contacting you at all, you may want to reevaluate your situation.
2.) You’re working more than part time: In contrast to number one, if you find that you’re interning more than thirty hours, you might just be a free employee in their eyes.
3.) You haven’t learned anything: No, learning how your boss likes his coffee doesn’t count. Interning is about getting experience and learning about an industry that you potentially would like to work in. For example, if you have been interning in the graphic design industry but have yet to work with a design program, there is a definite problem. This doesn’t mean you should be working on logos and projects for clients, but you should at least be helping with the projects.
4.) You are asked to do something misleading: If a company ever asks you to break a rule, law or do anything unethical, you should quit immediately. If they ever ask you to lie that is also a major red flag.
If any of these signs apply to your internship, take the time to assess it. Trust your instincts, if you have any indication that you are being taken advantage of, don’t hesitate to quit; just be sure to be professional and give two-week notice, burning bridges is never a good plan no matter what.
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