How would you approach an internship that feels unfulfilling, misleading, and that ultimately, disappoints you? One where you realize that it simply isn’t the field or work-place dynamic that aligns with you? One where every single day you’re counting the hours until you are begrudgingly excused? However, no matter how much you may not enjoy it, you must endure because it is simply too late to change. Well, that was exactly my internship experience these past months at W.Green, and what I learnt.
Lesson learned number one: Ask, ask, ask
My interview for this internship was short, ten minutes to be precise. I heard the buzzword ‘sustainability’, and became blinded by the glamor. To me, sustainability has been, and is at the forefront in my career priorities. It has been so valuable to me to integrate sustainability into my internship – so important that it didn’t really matter at the time what else the internship entailed. I still had questions, but didn’t ask half because my interviewer was pushing for the meeting to end, and half because I had already mentally convinced myself that this was the one for me.
Lesson learned, I should have asked about what type of clients I’d be communicating with. Influencers? No thanks, not for me.
Lesson learned, I should have precisely asked the company size and composition. Five people and only one other intern? No thanks, I prefer larger teams.
Lesson learned, I should have asked why the previous intern had left after only two months. Then I’d know that I’d be cooking “warm lunches” every day for my seniors (strange.. I know).
Lesson learned number two: How to cope differently
I had two ways to view my time at my internship (and oftentimes, throughout the week I would fluctuate between the two): suck it up or make the best of it.
When I would suck it up, I would mindlessly go about my days, completing the necessary tasks with effort, but minimal passion. All of my feelings of frustration and estrangement would be internalized.
When I would make the best of it, I would keep an open mind about the company, my tasks, and the people. With this, I would make an internal compromise with my personal beliefs, allowing myself to see a positive side to something which feels unideal.
Both perspectives helped me go about my days so I could finally reach the finish line. Strangely enough, sucking it up helped my internal rationalisation of my situation, while making the best of it allowed me to be open to different ways of working.
Lesson learned number three: Not everything will be perfect
Sometimes I will be disappointed. That was a tough lesson to be learned. Although I did gain significant practical experience, networking opportunities, and the experience of office job routines, this experience did not align with my expectations. However, it’s okay if that happens, It’s okay to be disappointed, and sometimes undesirable situations can be beneficial. A journal excerpt from the 5th of October perfectly encapsulates it:
‘I feel like I’ve learnt all the wrong lessons here. I’ve learnt that I don’t care for influencers, I think mass-gifting is inherently unsustainable, I don’t like working in small teams, I don’t like making lunch for other people, nice people can be incredibly patronizing, and that ultimately social media PR is just not for me. Although it is disappointing, I suppose it’s nice to learn these lessons in a low-stakes environment early on. It’s better to try to make the best of it, and take it as a lesson learned.’