Make the Best of It—It’s Your Choice!
Posted On Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at at 3:00 AM by Rosalie T. SchrautArmand Mignot of MIT writes that if you end up not liking your internship, you have to realize that your current job isn’t the be-all end-all. The best way to handle the situation is to look towards the future. No matter the situation, whether you want to switch careers, companies, or just positions, your potential future employers will want to know how you spent your last summer. Keeping this in mind for your future, it means that you must perform well in your current internship. You may need to request a recommendation from your current employer so you do not want to behave sloppily simply because you do not like the job. Ending your current internship in a positive light is critical for your future. At the end of the internship, if you did well you might even get a full-time offer. If this is the case, you should simply express the fact that you are choosing a different career path. It will still be impressive that you performed well up to that point and you leave them with only good things to say about you. With good recommendations and experience it will set you towards obtaining the job you truly desire. Michael Brown of Cornell University adds that you should figure out what will make your experience more exciting. Begin looking for small opportunities to add value to the group. Contact coach and figure out what steps they would take if they were in your shoes.
I completely agree with Armand. It is super important that you leave your internship knowing you did your best and with a feeling of accomplishment. The people you meet, including your supervisor and other employees may have the connections you need to for example enter a new industry that you've always had interest in.
And in terms of work, I would advice to be consistent. I know all of us would like to leave a positive lasting impression of our work -which is great- but consistency (good work) communication and demonstrating a genuine interest in the role of the company and they way they impact the markets, will feel more natural to you and will show your true professional character.