The End Of An Internship
What if I hate my internship?
If you really hate your internship, first of all give it more time. There are up days and there are down days. There are days where you were so swamped and days you where you don't do anything. But it's really important to really try to get to the end. If you really hate your internship, try to figure out what you can at least make of your internship, and what you can learn. Also it's good if you don't like your internship, to know why you don't like your internship. Maybe it's the wrong business for you, and that's what an internship is really all about.
What should I have learned by the end of my internship?
What you want to learn at the end of your internship is, first of all, look back at your experience; see why you like it, what you didn't like about it, and really evaluate if next summer that is what you want to do, if that's the career path you want to follow, if that's the major you want to major in at school. You should have learned how an office works and office politics, how to go to a party and not get smashed, how to deal with an office, with office ethics, and you should learn a ton about the business. You should have sat in meetings, you should have listened to conversations appropriately (don't eavesdrop), and really have learned a ton about this business and how it works really from the bottom and then to the top, because now you know the fabric of what this thing is made of if you have the base of the pyramid.
How do I end my internship on the right note?
Firstly, establish an end date with your supervisor. Hey, I'm going to end here. OK, so now you're done. You're finished. Last day. Make that same last impression that you made that first day. Be really great. Stay late. Help out. Don't be like, oh, it's my last day, I'm out of here, bye. Maybe they'll have a party for you, you know, cupcakes, whatever. And then when you're done, it's important to send e-mails to most people at work, maybe your boss you can write a personal note to and give it to them on the last day. Really thank them for the incredible opportunity that they gave you, and also make sure to get everyone's numbers and e-mails and so forth so you have a way to contact them afterwards. But again, be really gracious, thank them for an incredible opportunity, because at the end of the day, you did not have to be there.
Can I raid the office supply cabinet when I leave?
I'm sure they have really nice pens and pads, usually with company logos on them. Do not take them unless you're given them. Do not take them. It's just sort of office ethics. You don't need to be stealing from the company. Even though you probably weren't paid, you don't need to be stealing their pads. Sorry!