Is this Internship Worth it?

[estarti]

I went through the "internship" tags and found something relatively relevant, but I'd like to get advice on my particular situation.

I'm in college in Boston for graphic design, just starting my sophomore year. I was able to snag an internship for the summer due to a connection in the career services office, and was thrilled. It's unpaid, and

Comments

[foutu]

i think you're doing yourself a disservice by finding ways to get out of your two-days-a-week gig. if you missed that much work anywhere else they would have gotten rid of you. :/

[estarti]

I know it sounds hideous. But when it's either I miss work or I miss my internship, I definitely choose to miss my internship. And when my bosses were on vacation in Italy and all my coworkers did was play flash animation games while I tried to work on one lonely assignment, you bet I took the next day off to be more productive. They're pretty laid back and only are open four days a week anyway, haha.

[keiyou]

Don't do it. Unless it's a note-worthy design firm, i wouldn't even go. If you don't get paid and you don't get credit, the only thing that'll look good is the experience. But what does that matter if the place doesn't even specialize in graphics? D:

[leahcreates]

I think any experience is better than no experience.

Also, I work as a designer for a company about an hour from Boston, as well - I wanted an intern for this summer, but didn't find one... Maybe next summer you could be MY intern! (And I work for the best company ever; seriously. I feel like I am CONSTANTLY growing/learning.) Also, our internships are "expenses paid" (which, I think, is minimum wage).

[estarti]

I... would LOVE that :]

I am still trying to keep that mindset; this is a tough business and I need all the help I can get. But some days I think the $1.70 ride to Waban is a waste.

[luvlorn]

Is the place non-profit? If not, and if you're not learning anything, then why do all the work under the guise of an "internship" when someone is making a profit

[estarti]

Nope, they are a real business with real customers. Some of their stuff is "good" but none of it is really... progressive? Mostly cookie-cutter stuff. For weeks I've been working on a website they're all sick of looking at, and I was proud to take it on and finish it for them. But it's just becoming a chore and putting me in the same boat they're in - sick of looking at it. It happens, I know, but part of me feels that since this is a summer thing, it's just eating away at me while I could have knocked off 8 other smaller projects.

And I thought they were all degree-holding... but they hid it well.

Until recently I hadn't thought about saving the older "pure" versions of things, but I'm going to start doing that now.

Thank you for your input :]

well

[talazia]

Some of the best graphic designer I know do NOT have a degree in graphic design. You don't need one in this field to be a success - a portfolio is a much better sell. I've hired for designers, and the first thing I look at is the work.

And most jobs in design - will have lots of jobs that aren't the cutting edge of design. In fact, most of your jobs in the future will be like that; or you'll have a senior person directing the look and feel of the campaign.