My Internship is killing me

[S235JR]

I'm either doing nothing or bullshit that has nothing to do with my course of studies. I dont have any responsibilty, and by now I dont care any more.

I'm sitting in a big room with 10 people and a lot of stuffy air. People babbling, phones ringing, doors banging, PC's humming and, of course, the fucking radio playing approx. 10 different songs a day.

The Internet is starting to be boring, and while it was fun not to be caught surfing in the beginning its rather obnoxius by now. Im starting to not care at all..

All day I think about working out but when I'm finally home I'm so pissed that I just want to get over with it and have some beers.

It gets me thinking, while I really like what I'm studying - what kind of job will I end up in?

Its creating tension with my gf too. She's working harder than me and while she surely wishes me no bad, she seems a bit content that I have to take a involuntary break of my lazy college life. Coming along, she's studying for a test - I'm stressed out because I have nothing to do, she's stressed out because she has too much to do...

Is every internship like this? fuck it im happy I have to do only one...

[bigwhat62]

depends who you intern for.

[OneTake]

If your internship isn't in your field of study, you may want to find one in your field of study. I will say that office experience is exactly that, experience working in an office. If it's a worthwhile office job, you'll at least gain better writing, communication, and analytical problem-solving skills; which you'll be able to apply when you start your career.

If you're not getting any of the above, find a different internship because not every one is like that.

As far as the tension between you and your gf goes, I've been on your gf's side of the mix. My ex went to school, didn't pay for anything (not her tuition, not her half of the rent/bills/food, etc.) cause her Dad did, and she sat at home all day when she wasn't in class. I worked three days a week, took the same amount of classes as she did, drummed in a local band, etc. There's a reason she's my ex.

To ease the tension I'd suggest venting to someone else and making the time you spend with her oriented around positive things you're both experiencing.

[LiftingNerd]

Stick with it. For some reason there are companies that won't give you a second look in the hiring process if you haven't had an internship while in school. Even though the experience you gain through that internship is entirely dependent on whether the company you interned for has a solid program set up.

[AbsoluteTom]

How about looking for another one? Keep the one you've got... as someone mentioned earlier, the experience can be vital to getting a job later. At the same time, search for another one. You might find one that makes you happy.

[Lex]

Think like a prospective future employer: is this job relevant to your career, or is it just a paycheck? If it is relevant, then it's like a routine in your workout that you hate because those muscles are weak (for me, it's pull-ups)--cowboy up and power through it. Interns are usually the least powerful in any organization, but even so, you might turn this around into a valuable learning experience. I'm in IT so a lot of learning that I need to do is available over the Internet. If I'm not busy, then chances are I'm reading docs on Cisco's web site or something related. Observer those around you--is there anyone there that you can learn from? If you show desire and ability, few senior people would hesitate to mentor someone coming up. I've done it in the past with a kid who showed a strong desire to learn and become better, and it was a very pleasurable experience.

[S235JR]

Luckily its a obligatory internship, I'll be damned if i to another one volunatirly..
In a sense its a very valueable experience, it reinforces my determination not to end up in a job that sucks my soul from my bones^^

And if that means I'll make less money than all those latte sipping yuppies I'll have no problem with that. People work their asses off to be able to take expensive vacations because they work too much! Its stupid..

Shit I have no idea if it's going to work out but I'll try...


just venting...

[Dada]

Whatever it is, even if it's not really relevent work (interns usually get shit to do). Just turn it into something that sounds relelvent one way or another when it comes time to put it on a resume. If you have something even slightly relevent and the next guy doesn't, guess who gets the job? Also, very few jobs in any field are as rewarding as we hope. I've had some boring ass jobs and some great ones as well. Like right now, I couldn't be much happier in my job but I also had a job for about 10 years that was miserable. So I guess you take the good with the bad and make the best of it. Usually when you least expect it, something good comes along.