When To Leave An Internship

By Andreas Fanos on July 30, 2018

College can be fun and is a necessity in today’s time, but it also is important to think about the future. What do you want to do for the rest of your life? What do you enjoy? And one of the best ways to figure out, besides attending classes with different subjects, is doing internships once you have a central idea. There are many ways that internships are so essential because they provide experience and some pay, and money is always good while in school.

However, the other question is when is it right to leave an internship behind? I am here to answer that as I have left other internships and committed to others.

Photo from Pexels

The one tip is trusting your heart. Are you happy doing the internship or are you getting what is deserving? To answer the first question, internships can be a great way to show if this is the major you want to go into. This should be done after freshman year because changing majors afterward will only put you behind in work and years to graduate.  If you know this is what you want to do, then don’t worry about it. If an internship is not enjoyable or fulfilling it can be tiring and feel like a chore; later down the line in the real world, not being happy will lead to a sad life, and you don’t want that. Even if the internship is only for a set period of time, which is sometimes the case.

Another reason to leave an internship is if you aren’t getting what you deserve, especially if the internship is free. Doing one free internship is great if it is a great opportunity and to get a foot in the door, but after that and later as a junior or senior in college, individuals should look to get a paid internship because there are plenty out there. For example, I did a free internship with a company, but after some turmoil and not getting paid anything, I quit and then did internships that paid me for my work, since I could use the money to pay for some college bills and save up in my account.

Some internships will offer a full-time position upon graduation, so completing the internship could be of importance if it is with a prominent company. But if you have been at an internship for a year or two with no change that is a warning sign to leave and find a better one. The only reason someone should not quit an internship is if they need the experience, but if a better one comes around, do that and quit the other.

And if an individual is struggling in school and not staying on top of things or getting enough sleep, quit the internship outright. Health means more than the internship so email a supervisor to see if anything can be done. Transportation must be taken into account too, getting to the internship safe and sound is a priority. If you want to go far away to another state for a great opportunity do it, but prepare in advance and save up for living expenses. See if a friend can help you out in the area or share an apartment with someone else.

Another easy tip to know when to leave an internship is if you see dysfunction or chaos going on. If you see people are getting fired or the company is not doing well. For me, I have stayed with some internships even now out of respect, but I have a job that I do as well. There is also a way that for example freelancing for websites that some will allow you to write on your own free time, which makes the internship a lot easier to do. Reaching out to a supervisor or boss is vital and never should be looked down upon.

Internships are a must and following these tips will help in getting one and in knowing when to leave one. And it is obvious but when quitting an internship make sure to let your boss or supervisor know weeks in advance. Writing a letter stating what the internship meant to you and for possibilities in the future is also good to say. Be on the positive side and don’t anger an employer or state the negatives. Leaving as a professional is the best way to go out, trust your heart and it will all go as planned.

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