Internships are the chance to cut your teeth into your career. There are good ones and unfortunately, there are bad ones. Here are 10 internship red flags to stay away from.
Zero Contract
If you are going into some sort of business agreement, there should always be a contract. Even if you are not getting paid for your internship, you should still have to sign a contract. No contract? Then this is a red flag!
Lack of Work-Life Balance
Working constantly is not okay for a full-time job, so it is especially unacceptable for an intern. Having to work overtime every day is a bad sign. There is this assumption that just because interns are young they can handle working late hours. If you notice your work-life balance being non-existent, then there is a serious problem.
Menial Tasks
If your main job is to get coffee and make copies of documents, then you are engaging in menial tasks. This is a bad sign and probably means the company just wanted someone they didn’t have to pay much to do these types of tasks. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be asked sometimes to do something menial, it just shouldn’t be your whole job.
Lack of Supervision
If you are given tasks with no supervision, that is a red flag. You are new to the field and are supposed to be learning from your supervisor. Having no one around to help you is a waste of your time and talent.
Dealing With a Micromanager
On the flip side of having no supervision is dealing with a micromanager. A micromanager is looking over your shoulder all day, every day. They might let you start projects but they will almost always finish them. This type of management style just creates a toxic work environment because you can’t do any of your work. And if you don’t do any work, how can you learn and grow?
No Initial Training
Training has to be done at any job, regardless of what it is. If you are in the first weeks of your internship and notice no one is training you, then it might be best to run. The company could not care about the growth and development of their interns and that is not a place you want to work.
No Clear Goals
Goal setting helps set you up for success. Your internship should have clear, defined goals. If there is a lack of them, there could be the chance that your internship doesn’t care about your accomplishments while you are there.
Low Pay
Some internships are unpaid, but most companies seem to be leaning towards compensating people for their time. If you happen to have an unpaid internship, then this could be a sign of how the company values (or doesn’t value) you. This also could show that they are not trying to be inclusive since they are doing nothing to reduce socio-economic barriers.
Being Excluded From Meetings
Meetings are where you should be learning some of the most valuable information. You don’t necessarily have to say anything during the meeting, but just knowing you are there and can learn is beneficial. If you are kept from these, then this could be another red flag. You are supposed to be there to learn and being excluded just shows the company doesn’t value you as an intern.
Read More: 10 Signs You Need to Rethink Your Finance Goals
No Respect
Even though interns are usually younger than the rest of the team, it is ideal for them to be treated with respect. If someone keeps pointing out your lack of experience or just doesn’t treat you kindly, then there is a lack of respect. Regardless of your position, you should feel like you are being treated well.
Read More: 10 Things to Look For in an Internship