Rosie’s guide to surviving a disappointing internship
Sometimes you get an internship and it’s exactly what you dreamed of, or better! Good for you! So far I’ve been super lucky, but this year it’s turned out to be something I’m not that interested in. How do you get the best of an experience like that?
Consider why you applied for it
There’s probably a reason you applied for this internship - remind yourself of it if you’re feeling stuck in the daily grind. Is it to get experience, to make contacts, to learn a skill...?
If you wrote a cover letter or formal application, read it through - what did you want to learn? Are you learning it?
Equally, maybe you said something about what you would bring to the place of work - are you?
Think about why it’s less than you expected - is it how one specific company works, or do you actually not like a fundamental part of the job, like working alone/data analysis/lots of reading (etc.)
Reflect on what you want to learn at the end of each week
When you’re studying, it’s easy to see progress in just a day or two, and sometimes it gets frustrating if you don’t seem to be making much of a difference in a day of work
Take some time on a Friday afternoon to think about what you’ve achieved that week, and what you want the next week to bring
It can be a small goal (take minutes in a meeting, learn 5 new words in my target language) or a detailed plan for each day - whatever will help you keep track of your progress without feeling overwhelming
It doesn’t need to be the goal you’d expect! Last summer I worked in a data-processing company, but I learned how to take minutes and perform audits while I was there. There will almost certainly be something you can add to your CV at the end of it
Personally I find a discussion with someone else in the office really helpful - you don’t need to promise something unattainable, but it’s good to have someone to hold you accountable. Try telling someone at home if you think that will be easier, or writing it down in a planner/journal
Branch out
There’s probably a lot more to the place you’re working than just your job
Ask if you can shadow someone in another department for a day, or try a new skill instead of watching someone else
Don’t feel like you have to stick entirely to what you applied for - if it was an official internship position they couldn’t cover all bases with their description, and if you approached them more informally it’s completely natural to change direction as you get more experienced
Talk to people
This is the most important part!
Talking to other people you’re working with might help you approach the work in a different way. Can you appreciate what you’re doing from a new angle, or with a new level of understanding?
Even if you don’t think the work you’re doing is something you’d be interested in in the future, contacts are always really useful to have, especially when people now are less likely to stick to just one job throughout their lives. Ask to connect on LinkedIn, or at least make sure you each have an email address
If you tell your supervisor or colleagues what you’re unhappy with, chances are they can fix it! Maybe they can explain something, give you information in a slightly different way, or even move you to a whole new area!
If you’re not enjoying it because you don’t feel safe, tell someone high up immediately - being unfamiliar with a company might make you feel less powerful or intimidated, but it’s always important to speak out as soon as possible. You can use email if it makes you feel safer, or talk to your favourite colleague instead of the official channel if you wouldn’t mind them doing it on your behalf.
I hope this helps you all! What are your tips for surviving a disappointing internship?
