Joining a new company as an intern can be intimidating, as it comes with many expectations, both good and bad. In part 1 of the series, “Internship Expectations vs. Realities,” each intern reflected on a few of the expectations they came in with versus the realities they left with.
Expectation: The only thing you’ll miss at the end of the internship is the kitchen full of free snacks and coffee.
Reality: The thing I’m going to miss from interning at PAVLOV is the experience.
“As an intern, I’ve had many opportunities to do work for real clients, which have taught me skills that I definitely couldn’t learn in the classroom. The knowledge gained from being at PAVLOV will be things that I carry with me throughout my entire career. I’m going to miss all of the wonderful people whom I’ve worked with, and, of course, the free snacks and the extra strong coffee.”
Expectation: Interns only work on small projects and perform tasks like coffee runs, gathering food orders, and data entry.
Reality: My work and input made an impact.
“It’s really fun and rewarding to work on projects and see them come to fruition. Even if the projects aren’t implemented, I am left with a great learning opportunity for how to improve my work. At PAVLOV, you are not slaving away at the coffee machine or doing mindless work; you are a part of the team.”
Expectation: Four years of schooling prepared you for everything that could ever be thrown your way.
Reality: You have to be able to hit the ground running and think on your feet, because you’ll be presented with situations you’ve never been exposed to before.
“While things I learned in school are useful, I realized that there will be times when you are expected to learn something new on the fly. While it may seem overwhelming to be tasked with something you aren’t familiar with, an internship is a learning experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and for help if you need it! Internships and job experiences prepare you for the real world more than sitting in a classroom, so embrace the challenges you face during your internship and use them as learning opportunities for the future.”