Signs Your Internship is Going Nowhere
It must be so thrilling to finally get your dream internship. Now you can make a start on your career. However, not all internships are everything that you had hoped it would be. While some internships provide an excellent opportunity for you to get a taste of your industry and to make valuable connections, others are not more than fill your hours. Here are some signs your internship is going nowhere.
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Lack of work
One of the obvious signs that your internship is going nowhere is from the work that is assigned to you. You know that your internship is a waste of time because all the assignments you get are dull and have no real value. You’re not given a chance to do productive things that can improve your career prospects. But, remember that you can even learn lessons from the seemingly pointless work. The world of work requires a lot of skills that you can only acquire in a workplace.
Nobody seems to care what you do
Another signs your internship is going nowhere is when you know no one seems to care if you complete you work or not. While it's great that your internship is so incredibly easy, you’re beginning to feel like they wouldn't even notice if you didn't show up. If you are met with indifference at your internship then it is probably safe to say that the employer is not interested in it, or in you.
The employer doesn't seem happy with your work
The relationships that you’re building are only valuable if the employer is happy with your performance. When the employer likes your work, they may make an effort to keep you around. When they don't have a good impression of you, they definitely won't bother. If you start to sense the signs your internship is going nowhere, you may try to ask for feedback and try to improve.
You are excluded from meetings
Do you never get invited to meetings and group gatherings? It’s always a bad sign. Employers might choose to exclude you from some meetings for productivity purposes. But, if you feel that you would benefit from the meetings and want to take a more active role in the discussions, ask if you can attend as an observer. Showing that you are willing to participate in long and boring meetings is a sign that you want to stay at the company long-term and get more involved in important company decisions.
You aren’t been treated right
Everyone keeps calling you ‘the intern’ and treats you like you are at the lowest level of the professional pyramid. It’s true that you have just started out, and you are trying to gain work experience, but this doesn’t mean that everybody else is allowed to treat you like dirt. If you feel like you are being bullied, insulted and disrespected, you have two options. You either stand up for yourself or quit.
If your internship isn't working for you, there are a few things that you can do. You can try to talk to the employer and let them know what you would like to get out of the internship and where you would like to get more exposure. There is a chance that the employer has no idea what you want to do and would be more than happy to oblige. You can also try to talk to your school or internship consulant (if your internship was coordinated through one of them). It is their job to ensure that it is a meaningful learning experience for you. However, it is important to stay positive during these conversations. The employer is not going to do anything for if you have a negative attitude. It may end up that you got stuck with an internship that doesn't help you very much. Just put it on your resume and move on.