How To Deal With An Internship That Treats You Like Trash

By Tabitha Makumi.
Bad things happen when you are an intern….things like people looking down on you, you are made to do some errands like doing photocopies and banking cheques or sometimes being told to go and buy lunch for the employed goons (for lack of better word ) and why does this happen…YOU ARE AN INTERN!
Such things can make you go mad and even worse, quit that internship and think to yourself, they can find another intern to ‘use’
Fortunately, not all people experience a bad internship, some end up loving it and getting a job at the company where they were interning…..but what if you are that guy who when the alarm goes off at 5.30pm or whatever time you wake up, you can’t help but grit your teeth at the thought of going to that internship maddening situation all over again.
Everyone tells you how you can have a good internship…..but what if you don’t? What do you do? Here are two common issues that characterize ‘bad internships’ and some tips of how to handle them:
1. Most Common. When you spend most of your time at copy machines, ordering lunch and coffee for everyone in the office and small errands where you don’t gain anything.
Sincerely this is not what you had in mind when you took up that position. You thought you would be learning something but this is what you are now subjected to.’
You may not know this but often companies use this modus operandi like to “test” interns to see how well they follow instructions and execute given tasks.
How to handle it: If you are given an assignment that has absolutely nothing to do with your internship, don’t assume the worst. Do your best and try to remain optimistic.
However, if the “push-over” work continues, let your employer know that you are eager to learn more about the company and want to contribute to its efficiency and productivity.
2. You feel that your employer asks too much of you.
In this case, you feel like they are making you do work like that a salaried employee should be responsible for.
How To Handle It: What do you do in this situation. Well, this is not time to panic and rush to get everything done quickly. This is time to prioritize your tasks and set goals so the work is completed on time and correct.
Don’t just sit there and sulk all day. Talk to your employer of the tasks they have assigned you. This way they are going to be mindful of your time and see if they are being reasonable with what they are asking you to do.
While you are at it, remember you don’t want to be like the guy in the first scenario  so  consider how these responsibilities contribute to the overall effectiveness of the company and way to get the most out of your internship.
The next big step in these two situations is deciding whether or not you can continue with the internship.
What happens when you choose to stay through thick and thin?
If you choose to stay, good for you! Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment, but you would have experienced a dose of the real world. You know, some things just don’t go as planned.
But what if you decide to leave?
I will tell you what, before you say enough is enough, be sure that you have evaluated the situation and have made a sound decision. Never quit any position on an impulse.
It’s important to make sure that you’ve thought through your decision to leave before taking action.