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(3) Comments“Just” an Intern…
How many of us have heard those words? He or she is “just an intern.” Now, my own situation is a bit different, but it’s still a similar attitude. Since I’m “just an intern,” people didn’t think I was capable of certain work at first… they learned. Since I’m “just an intern” that doesn’t get paid it was assumed I wouldn’t be as motivated… they learned. Since I’m “just an intern” I can’t have transportation to Ivory Coast for my flight… I learned! 
We all have things to learn… many organizations which “employ” (using that term loosely here) interns need to make their other employees aware that the word intern is not a dirty word, it doesn’t mean we are less capable human beings, and most of all it doesn’t give people the right to treat us as gophers and errand boys!
In conversations with my fellow interns this summer I have often heard statements such as: “If I’m so incompetent, then why did they hire me?” “How can I edit parts of a report that I’m not allowed to see?” “How can someone else take credit for my work?” “Why don’t they give me anything substantial to do?” “Why do they treat me like an idiot who is only good for getting their coffee?” “How is it that I’m supposed to GAIN experience again?” AND “Can anyone explain to me why I’m working for free, in fact paying AU, AND being treated poorly?!”
However, as interns we must also learn to be humble. After all even if we are capable people, with education, many of us do not have the experience of our coworkers and for that we too must put in our time. However fair or unfair it seems… I, because I’m an expat but “only” an intern, do not get a car to take me to the Ivory Coast (where my flight leaves from) next week. So, the less recommended and by far less convenient route of commercial transportation, is the route I will be taking… for good or bad… because I’m “just” an intern!
I have chosen to be humble and accept my “fate” as a “lowly” intern for the time being and what that means working for DRC here in West Africa. Assuming every one of my predecessors (ok, not here, but in a more typical situation) has been here and has climbed out of it to be something more than “just” an intern… I too will one day graduate and move beyond the place in which I, and many of my classmates, find ourselves.
Jennifer Carignan, 
Francine Blume, and 
Marie Spaulding are discussing. 
Marie Spaulding 6:17 pm on July 26, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I am sorry that you and your fellow interns feel as if you have been treated poorly. It can be challenging to help an employer see how you, as an intern, can use your considerable skills to benefit the employer if he/she will only allow you to work on substantive projects. I am sure that you talked with your employer more than once to make sure he/she knew you were ready to assume more responsibility and to work with other staff members to tackle tasks. As you say, when you have graduated and you work with interns, I trust that you will remember your experience and spend time as a mentor sharing your knowledge and involving the intern in project work.
Francine Blume 2:53 pm on July 27, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You really hit a lot of nails right on the head! And intern has to have a really good balance of humility and self respect. You don’t want to be walked on, but at the same time, you know there are others with more experience. But no one should ever treat another person as “just an intern.” And intern supervisors should really make sure that the rest of the people in the office understand that. Their role is to mentor and to help teach, not to give scut work. I’m sorry about the transportation issue, but I hope none of these other things came up for you. No intern, paid or unpaid, should have to deal with any of those other things. I would hope interns would feel comfortable talking to their supervisors about issues but if not, please know you can talk to us here at the Career Center because we can advocate on your behalf. And trust us, we tell all our employers that they really should be paying their interns.
Jennifer Carignan 1:04 pm on July 28, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Kate, I agree with what Marie and Francine have already said. All I’ll add is to remember that while you might not be able to control folks who lack respect for their student employees, you CAN control the way you present yourself in this challenging situation. I have complete confidence that you’re doing this in your internship and hope that other students are as well. Regardless of how things end up here, you can look back on this experience knowing that you handled this situation with professionalism, probably learned a lot along the way and will treat your future interns with the respect they deserve!