Hate Your Internship? 4 Reasons Why That’s Actually a Good Thing

The other day, one of the interns at hint was telling me about some of her friends who had landed what seemed like dream internships at big companies. They all hated their gigs.

My first thought? That’s great!

No, it’s not just because I secretly want everyone to work for hint or that I was being wildly insensitive. I truly believe that disliking your internship can be an incredible learning experience. Sometimes, you don’t know what you really want to do until you end up in a situation that you absolutely loathe.

I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing if you do like your internship. Obviously, you’re learning valuable lessons and setting yourself up for your post-grad life. But if you’re not enjoying your summer job, it may make you feel better to know that you’re not wasting your time.

Here are a few ways to make the most of your not-so-great internship so that it helps guide you in a better direction for the future.

1. Figure out what you like and don’t like about your internship.

While it might be more tempting to channel all your distaste into text rant sessions with your friends, try getting more tactical to move forward.

Instead of complaining, take some time to journal: write down specifics of exactly what isn’t working for you about the job, company, team, industry or project that you’re working on. While you’re at it, jot down anything about the experience you are enjoying, even if its small. Add to this list regularly throughout the summer, and it will start to paint a picture of what your ideal role is—and isn’t.

For example, maybe you’re not getting along with your supervisor. If you can hone in on what it is about their management style that isn’t right for you, you’ll know what red flags to look out for when you’re interviewing for your next job. Or maybe you don’t like how isolated you feel by being forced into one particular role when you want to have your hands in everything. That could be a sign that you should look for a more generalist role for your next move, or try working for a smaller company where generally employees wear more than one hat.

2. Network with people from various departments—not just the one you were assigned to—throughout the company.

Internships are a unique opportunity to get exposure to a lot of different areas of a business, giving you insight into the multitude of paths you might take when you graduate. Some programs, like hint’s internship, are specifically structured to give interns the chance to experience many departments. Even if yours isn’t set up that way, you’re in a rare and advantageous position to ask questions, express curiosity and be surrounded by knowledgeable people who are happy to help an eager newbie out. (Related: An Intern’s Guide to Getting the CEO to Notice You)

Challenge yourself to go out to coffee with one to two new people each week from a variety of departments and levels across the company. Ask about their current position, what their day-to-day looks like, what they love and hate about their roles. Have them talk about their prior jobs. Soak up as much information as you can and pay attention to anything that sparks excitement during these conversations.

3. Don’t wait to be put on a cool project; volunteer for tasks that excite you.

This only works if you prove yourself to be a dedicated, hard worker from the start: If you’re not loving your particular role, see if you can work on projects in another area that you’re curious about. Obviously, you can’t completely shirk the job that you were hired to do, but if you get your work done with time to spare—or are willing to put in some extra hours—ask your boss if there are projects outside your department that you might be able to help out with.

At hint, we value our interns and the brilliant ideas they come up with and love to have them weigh in on the projects they’re passionate about. Most other internship supervisors will be happy to facilitate you working on something you’re interested in, even if it is in a different department.

4. Cultivate lasting relationships that may help you get the gig that you want, even if it’s elsewhere.

If you’re unable to find the work you want to do during this particular internship, then do everything you can to develop strong connections with everyone you interact with. OK, so you might not be gunning for a job at this company when you graduate. But the people you’re meeting here are still going to become part of your network, and your network can play a huge role in helping you find andland future dream jobs. (Related: 4 Networking Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next Mega-Conference)

Perhaps your teammate knows someone at another company that you think is a better fit for you. They can make an introduction to the hiring manager, which is definitely a leg up on candidates who are cold-emailing their resumes for consideration. Or maybe your boss gets hired at a different company—one that feels like exactly the kind of place where you want to work. Make sure you’re on their short list when they start hiring.

These connections matter. So do your best work possible, despite not loving it, put in the time to get to know your team and stay in touch after you leave. As you keep these relationships going and share the type of work you’re looking for when the time comes, you might be surprised by the opportunities you find.

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Let’s Connect! Find me on Twitter (@KaraGoldin), and DM me your burning business questions and/or comments.

Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of San Francisco–basedhint?, a healthy lifestyle brand that produces the leading unsweetened flavored water and a scented sunscreen spray that’s oxybenzone and paraben-free. Listen to her podcast, Unstoppable, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and disruptors across various industries and keep up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.