Having a summer internship as an undergrad is a rite of passage for building up your resume but finding one that you actually enjoy is a whole different story. Between the dreaded coffee-and-copies gig, the struggles of working unpaid, and the long, boring days with nothing to do, your work experience can quickly turn into the worst experience. Luckily, sometimes you hit the internship jackpot. Here are nine signs that there’s nowhere else you’d rather spend the summer.
1. You’re excited to go to work in the morning.
You know when you have an 8 a.m. class and you’d rather pull all of your hair out than get out of bed? Yeah, that shouldn’t happen if you’ve found the right internship.
2. You stay late voluntarily and want to keep working from home.
If you turn into a total workaholic, volunteering for every assignment and working more than you sleep, you’re probably onto something.
3. Whether you’re paid or not, the work you do is rewarding enough in itself.
I can’t deny that money is pretty cool, but if you’ve found love in an open space, it won’t even matter that you’re not getting any… money, that is.
4. You feel comfortable in your workplace.
There’s nothing worse than not knowing where to put down your things and worrying about doing something wrong all the time. Your perfect internship feels like a second home. Okay, that might be pushing it, but you get my point.
5. You get along with your coworkers.
Not only will getting along with your coworkers make your internship enjoyable, but working with like-minded people will also clue you into knowing whether or not this field is right for you.
6. You look up to your bosses.
If you’re completely fan-girling over your superiors, you should probably pursue this thing.
7. You could see yourself working there in five years.
An internship is all very well and good but it only lasts a few weeks before you go back to reality - ahem, college. So if you’d be totally okay with this job being your life for an extended period of time, well, you know the drill.
8. You’re not constantly waiting for your lunch break or the end of the day.
You’re actually passionate about the work you’re doing and eager to do your best. That sub-par turkey sandwich you brought in for lunch and the clock hand striking five suddenly aren't the most exciting parts of your day.
9. You can’t stop talking about your job.
If you’re drilling everyone’s heads with ramblings about said internship, workplace, and bosses, you know it’s real.
Having a good internship can make a world of difference, and help you figure out what you want to do with your life. And that’s pretty cool - especially in college.
