Last week, a college of mine tweeted, “Ask your parents how to use the coffee machine at home – this might help prevent future problems.” My complaint is not with what she said but why she had to say it.
Internships are not supposed to be about making coffee and running errands. I’ve personally never worked at an organization where “make your own coffee” wasn’t the rule. Internships are supposed to be experiences where you gain specific skills and knowledge related to your career choice, as well as decide if you even want to pursue that career at all. If your time is spent learning how to perfect your coffee brewing techniques, then it’s a complete waste.
Spring internships are being advertised now, and Summer positions will be open before you know it. I strongly encourage you to visit www.InternshipRatings.com before making any decisions about where you will intern in 2010 (and beyond). After all, what accomplishment stories will you be able to add to your resume after completing a coffee-making internship? None. So, know where you’re interning before you accept the position.
