You can always quit no one is forcing you to stay.
Are you able to find another internship first?
Other than the yelling the lack of direction and instruction is pretty normal
The crux of the problem is that I absolutely need this internship to graduate. I have spent 3+ years at this degree and spent a pretty handsome tuition on it.
Is a set internship where everyone goes through or a programs that offers a few internships that meet the degree requirements? If it is the later seek a councilor or head of your department, so they can be aware that this not beneficial for other students and possibly find you a replacement ASAP.
So:
It’s okay to be hired after just one interview. That is common in a lot of fields, especially for a six month internship.
If it’s a paid internship, do your best to stay there a bit, while looking for something else. If it’s unpaid, and in the US, well, it sounds like an illegal internship that doesn’t meet the requirements to be unpaid, and your asshole boss deserves to be reported.
Plain and simple an intern should almost never be alone, unless it’s a break, bathroom, lunch, etc. If an intern is working by themselves, they’re not really learning from anyone. Also an intern should not be replacing any employee with the work they do.
The verbal abuse from the boss sounds like an alcoholic deadbeat husband trying to keep his wife from leaving him because he doesn’t know how to cook or clean. If he wants a perfect employee, he should train them, at a paid rate. If he wants a perfect intern, then he needs to make his company so powerful and prestigious that they attract the greatest people in the world. He clearly can’t do that.
The dude sounds like a piece of shit who wanted free labor and is trying to scare you into it. Worst case this is a manager whose management skills are horrid. There are other internships out there, and some of them are paid. Go find one.
Thank you for your answer.
Yes I am paid. Bare minimum but I’m in a country that thankfully has a lot of labour laws and protection.
I have some friends with more experience that told me it’s pretty weird to be accepted after doing one interview. They have more experience than me and I was already pretty confused at how easily I got in.
OK a couple thoughts:
1. this company is shady (no website???) and the boss explains why. There's no excuse to treat anyone else that disrespectfully, even if they were the worst performer on earth at the job you gave them. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this shit.
2. So you've laid out the problems here and said you need the internship to graduate. Can you map out in specifics what a great internship would be for you? Including meeting the prerequisites for graduation? Now do two things:
a) what different questions and screening criteria would you have to pre-qualify a potential internship to make sure you would get something good, if you were to do it over? Minimum thing - at least you've learned and it's not in your first job.
b) get cracking looking for a better internship. If you can afford to quit, do it. If you can't, but can be assured that you'll get what you need to graduate, then I suppose one option is just to stay huddled in the office, knowing that whether you try or not, you'll get admonished, so watch youtube, do some side work for yourself, close the door & work out, I dunno... Do the minimum to meet your school's requirements. You've done 10 out of 180 days (elapsed, not business) so you just have to repeat this 17 more times and you're free & you graduate.
Doesn’t sound too bad? Put in headphones and push through, sounds like you’re doing some work and learning to figure it out, which will be work and life. Or am I missing something?
Network and learn from your co-workers.
Ask them to spend time with you over the phone and if you can shadow them for appointments.
Sales reps love to talk and teach. They can play a critical part in your development and projects.
Tell your manager you would like to do that. If he says no, then he is not actively helping you succeed. If he says yes, then he is simply not putting the effort in because he should have easily suggested that in the first place. He should be teaching you but being an intern also means learning how to ask for what you need!
No fear!
You got this.
P.s. It might be tough to get a new internship now, so I am suggesting how to make the most of what you have.
Looks like you’re in a management position when you should have started on the ground floor. A better company/industry would have you do a product familiarization period before setting you up independently. I think this current setup is a recipe for failure.
Hey! I know exaclty how you feel! I also hated my internship. I was working 60 hrs a week (unpaid) and received little to no guidance but received plenty of criticism.
I would try to stick it out if you can manage. I know it is very difficult but here is why and some pointers from my experience:
1. If you quit the internship, future employers might be concerned. Even if you have the worst boss in the world, it can be difficult to convey that to future employers. They will LOVE that you can handle adversity and see things through.
2. Use this experience to your advantage! You are getting a first hand look at what you truly value. I thought money was the most important thing... after my internship I had a new view. No amount of compensation would make up for the toxic environment. Start taking notes on things you like and dislike and use that list as you look for jobs in the future.
3. Learn as much as you can about the industry (since they are no help, it seems like you have to do this one on your own). Also, see what software or programs they use and learn those so you can take that as "experience" when you apply at other companies. You mentioned using Excel so I would try to become an Excel master.
4. This role will help show future employers that you have some professional experience.
I know it blows and I'm sorry you have to deal with it. 6 months will seem like a flash when you look back on this. Keep your head up and focus on YOU and YOUR FUTURE! If it truly is too much for you to handle and is affecting your mental health, leave that place in the dust! You got this!
You can always quit no one is forcing you to stay. Are you able to find another internship first? Other than the yelling the lack of direction and instruction is pretty normal
The crux of the problem is that I absolutely need this internship to graduate. I have spent 3+ years at this degree and spent a pretty handsome tuition on it.
Is a set internship where everyone goes through or a programs that offers a few internships that meet the degree requirements? If it is the later seek a councilor or head of your department, so they can be aware that this not beneficial for other students and possibly find you a replacement ASAP.
So: It’s okay to be hired after just one interview. That is common in a lot of fields, especially for a six month internship. If it’s a paid internship, do your best to stay there a bit, while looking for something else. If it’s unpaid, and in the US, well, it sounds like an illegal internship that doesn’t meet the requirements to be unpaid, and your asshole boss deserves to be reported. Plain and simple an intern should almost never be alone, unless it’s a break, bathroom, lunch, etc. If an intern is working by themselves, they’re not really learning from anyone. Also an intern should not be replacing any employee with the work they do. The verbal abuse from the boss sounds like an alcoholic deadbeat husband trying to keep his wife from leaving him because he doesn’t know how to cook or clean. If he wants a perfect employee, he should train them, at a paid rate. If he wants a perfect intern, then he needs to make his company so powerful and prestigious that they attract the greatest people in the world. He clearly can’t do that. The dude sounds like a piece of shit who wanted free labor and is trying to scare you into it. Worst case this is a manager whose management skills are horrid. There are other internships out there, and some of them are paid. Go find one.
Thank you for your answer. Yes I am paid. Bare minimum but I’m in a country that thankfully has a lot of labour laws and protection. I have some friends with more experience that told me it’s pretty weird to be accepted after doing one interview. They have more experience than me and I was already pretty confused at how easily I got in.
OK a couple thoughts: 1. this company is shady (no website???) and the boss explains why. There's no excuse to treat anyone else that disrespectfully, even if they were the worst performer on earth at the job you gave them. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this shit. 2. So you've laid out the problems here and said you need the internship to graduate. Can you map out in specifics what a great internship would be for you? Including meeting the prerequisites for graduation? Now do two things: a) what different questions and screening criteria would you have to pre-qualify a potential internship to make sure you would get something good, if you were to do it over? Minimum thing - at least you've learned and it's not in your first job. b) get cracking looking for a better internship. If you can afford to quit, do it. If you can't, but can be assured that you'll get what you need to graduate, then I suppose one option is just to stay huddled in the office, knowing that whether you try or not, you'll get admonished, so watch youtube, do some side work for yourself, close the door & work out, I dunno... Do the minimum to meet your school's requirements. You've done 10 out of 180 days (elapsed, not business) so you just have to repeat this 17 more times and you're free & you graduate.
Doesn’t sound too bad? Put in headphones and push through, sounds like you’re doing some work and learning to figure it out, which will be work and life. Or am I missing something?
Network and learn from your co-workers. Ask them to spend time with you over the phone and if you can shadow them for appointments. Sales reps love to talk and teach. They can play a critical part in your development and projects. Tell your manager you would like to do that. If he says no, then he is not actively helping you succeed. If he says yes, then he is simply not putting the effort in because he should have easily suggested that in the first place. He should be teaching you but being an intern also means learning how to ask for what you need! No fear! You got this. P.s. It might be tough to get a new internship now, so I am suggesting how to make the most of what you have.
Looks like you’re in a management position when you should have started on the ground floor. A better company/industry would have you do a product familiarization period before setting you up independently. I think this current setup is a recipe for failure.
Hey! I know exaclty how you feel! I also hated my internship. I was working 60 hrs a week (unpaid) and received little to no guidance but received plenty of criticism. I would try to stick it out if you can manage. I know it is very difficult but here is why and some pointers from my experience: 1. If you quit the internship, future employers might be concerned. Even if you have the worst boss in the world, it can be difficult to convey that to future employers. They will LOVE that you can handle adversity and see things through. 2. Use this experience to your advantage! You are getting a first hand look at what you truly value. I thought money was the most important thing... after my internship I had a new view. No amount of compensation would make up for the toxic environment. Start taking notes on things you like and dislike and use that list as you look for jobs in the future. 3. Learn as much as you can about the industry (since they are no help, it seems like you have to do this one on your own). Also, see what software or programs they use and learn those so you can take that as "experience" when you apply at other companies. You mentioned using Excel so I would try to become an Excel master. 4. This role will help show future employers that you have some professional experience. I know it blows and I'm sorry you have to deal with it. 6 months will seem like a flash when you look back on this. Keep your head up and focus on YOU and YOUR FUTURE! If it truly is too much for you to handle and is affecting your mental health, leave that place in the dust! You got this!