Life of an Intern

Struggles of an Intern

“Internship” , that phase of career where we have been exploited to “ the limits” in the name of learning.  To the unknowns let me pour some light on the term “ Internship”. Internship is the extended phase of college with few similarities and a lot of discrepancies.

They are similar on the learning front as where colleges offer theoretical knowledge internship offers practical knowledge at industry standards.

So both of these collectively completes the whole pallet of learning. But wait, the grass is not all green we have only talk about the similarities now lets talk about some of the discrepancies.That’s where the college and internship differs at every parameter and with sky limit differences.

While college gives fun ,internship gives stress

Where college offers leniency ,internship offers punctuality 

Missing a lecture in college is called bunk with added notes

Calling it off in office gives an absent and can cost one day salary

But hang on what exactly do we get for these added life miseries? Let’s see , in most of the cases its the organisation’s basic level of salary (sometimes even lower than the salary of a peon). Statistically ,where the minimum wage can be as low as 2000 grand for a CA article ; the maximum can be 18 grands for graduated IT interns.

So needless to mention its quite a struggle for an intern to keep it going and maintaining both fronts of studies and profession. Mentioned below are a few of those:

The act of balancing

Neither completely a student nor a professional

Since an intern has to attend his classes at one part of the day where he completes his academic courses in order to appear for exams at the end of year. In the second part of the day he has to attend meetings, make business proposal and be a professional back at office.  Both of the fronts need to be managed with utmost sincerity and hard work so balancing is a must here!

Where did the fun go?

As I step out of my office premises I could sense my freedom again…

As I mentioned above it’s a blend of student and a professional which itself is an amalgamation of poles apart property like

 rebel like a student and patient like a corporate professional

Curious like a student and advisor like a professional

We all are humans we don’t have any switch mode options so that we just  shubs our other side and attitude in a bag as per the situation and act normally. Though we try our best to be that other person and act,  but sometimes we miss the fun of being just “US” with no need to behave.

The unjustified level of expectations

I am not going to stretch and complete just any other day…..

They work like any professional even better as they are curious so management start to expect more out of them and that’s where the complexity kicks in. An intern has a mindset of learning not completing your goals which is fairly justified by their pity salary and their designation in the hierarchy.

No motivation

Why should I do it?

Every professional work for 2 sort of motivation “learning” and “earning” and it should be fairly balanced. While the target of learning is met here there is no motivation in terms of earning as the wages are not only fixed for a particular phase but also at barely minimum!

Leaves and policies

I have been charged for a leave as well as one day salary

Every organisation has some policies regarding in and out; leaves; promotion; increment. If you are considering an intern equal in terms of work assignment then they should have a fair right over perks and policies as well now it can be leaves or bonus!

I agree Internships are always tough as it’s a journey of a learner to an experienced but it can be relatively easy with some added help……

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