The True Downsides Of Taking A Student Internship

What do most – if not all – students want during their summer break from school? You know the answer – an internship. 

You’ll constantly hear the word ‘internship’ or the phrase ‘get an internship!’ from the most popular movies, films, or videos. Your neighbor or family member may even encourage you to continue the idea. After all, an internship is supposedly an excellent method to gain experience and build connections and networks. 

Many students buy into the idea: They think that an internship is a gateway to a great entry-level position. And somehow, that may be the case; after all, statistics indicate that completing an internship gives a student an 85% increased chance of finding employment after graduation. 

After many hours of job applications and interview preparations, some students see their efforts come to fruition. They land top positions at decent companies and achieve their goals of scoring that perfect college internship. 

Then, the other students look around. The ones who score less-than-ideal internships often feel confused or forlorn throughout the process, and they then question their potential in their careers. 

But many may not realize that nowadays, gaining that internship is perhaps more overrated than ever. 

Throughout their internships, students are constantly exploited and expected to perform tasks that they are not trained to do. According to Vice News, in 2017, a survey conducted in India revealed that 72 percent of interns were exploited during their internships. 

What may come to mind is a picture of an intern buying coffee for their superiors. But most of the time, this may mean working overtime, completing tasks for the manager and superior, and working during off hours. 

And on the other hand, many companies continuously undervalue their interns’ mental health and well-being. According to a survey, out of 750,000 women who work as interns every year, around 615,000 women may witness sexual harassment throughout their internship. Moreover, 82% of former interns have said that they have known a colleague who has experienced sexual harassment. 

Hence, company policies tend not to protect interns. And because interns are perceived to be at the bottom of the hierarchy, the company continuously neglects their experiences and emotions. 

These downsides of internships are never portrayed or mentioned among college officials or administrators. However, this can be quite misleading to students seeking an internship to apply their skills from the classroom to the workplace. 

As a student, you need to ask yourself if the internship’s exploitation is worth it. Are you really learning new tasks? Or are you just perceived to be an extra hand or robot for the company? 

As a student, you have a right to be treated and respected in the way you deserve. And if your internship workplace does not allow that, ensure you are comfortable enough to address it accordingly.

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