Inexperienced college students or beginners might find a bad internship insurmountable but there are several ways you can turn it around. The first thing to do isn’t bolt.
What to Think Before Quitting a Bad Internship?
Do not dismiss an internship too soon just because your tasks involve making coffee and filing. Every job and internship comes with drudge work. The key is to look at the overall picture and recognize tasks you can turn into learning experiences.
If filing is merely a part of your job, do it gracefully and move on to more challenging activities. Switching back and forth between boring and challenging work will also assist to stop boredom. On the other hand, if your internship is too challenging do not despair and don’t take it personally. Instead, seek out help and advice from your direct report or a colleague.
Tips to Handle a Bad Internship
The key thing to do is write down everything about your internship that you do not like. Next:
- Talk to your supervisor. Let your supervisor know what things you would like to change like hours, responsibilities, more work, less work or more challenging work. Keep a daily log so you are well-prepared when you meet with your boss.
- Befriend your colleagues. Seek out after-work social events as a way to make friends and learn more about the industry. Socializing with co-workers after work is also a great way to gain insight into the corporate culture. You may also find that you are not alone. For instance, you may be struggling with an overly-critical boss and discover your boss has a reputation for being demanding and it has nothing to do with the quality of your work.
- Find a professional mentor. Finding a great mentorat your agency can make all the difference when you are struggling through a bad internship. Many students find that a caring mentor is invaluable in helping them turn a bad internship into one they actually enjoy.
- Learn to get along. If the issue is a personality conflict, view it as a chance to prepare yourself for the future. No matter where you work there will always be people you prefer not to work with. It is significant to accept and learn to work with all kinds of people, including the annoying ones.
- Give more to get more. After you get through your boring tasks show management you take work seriously. Take the initiative by approaching your boss for more challenging responsibilities, even if it means working on your lunch break. In the end, your resume (and skill set) will be more impressive.
Bad internships happen to great individuals but before you quit do everything possible to make better your situation. More often than not you will be capable to turn things around.