Hi, I just turned 20 and am a sophomore in college. I was unable to find a job this semester, but this odd guy who just graduated from my college and is soon moving for grad. school told me about a paid internship. He helps out, but will be leaving shortly. There is one other intern who is around 50 yrs old and worked in broadcasting, but wants to get into Business. This sounds nice, right?
BUT the internship and the lady looking for interns is what concerns me. She hardly looked at my resume and “hired” me on the spot. She is starting an online website where she sells articles to CEO’s and whatnot.
The thing is, training was yesterday…and it left a funny taste. Here is what concerns me:
1. The lady’s idea seems like a waste because the information in the articles *me and the interns* are writing for her aren’t worth paying for.
2. We get paid by each article that we write which gets sold *$25 per purchase*
3. For my training, the lady sent me an email telling me to meet her at 1:00 in which she also told me that SHE would let me know where to meet her. I had to leave class early to meet her and at 1:00 I called to ask where to meet her, since she never called. She did not pick up, so I left a message. At 1:45 I went and checked my email and found out she sent a recent message to me and the other interns *those two guys* stating we should meet at 2:00. I waited, and when she arrived I tried jokingly telling her, “You told me to meet you at 1:00.” She was using her phone *obv. she got my message/call, but obv. never responded* and she just laughed and said, “Oh yea. I told you 1:00, didn’t I?”
4. During the training, she unintentionally demonstrated her lack of computer knowledge by continually closing out windows, then spending 5 minutes pecking out a URL…finding she misspelled something, and trying again.
5. She emailed me and the rest of the group that night stating: _____owes us the notes she took. OWES? -_- She also said, “Let’s meet Wed. (tomorrow) at ____(she misspelled this random bar) at 6:00.” First off, she misspelled the place so I had to search online trying to figure out what she was talking about. Secondly, I responded with the notes attached, but also told her that I was unfamiliar with the place, but I just turned 20, so I am not sure if I can go to this place. She sent 3 email responses to my 1 email — none which addressed the bar place and the meeting is tomorrow. Also, she never even asked us if we were free — she just assumed.
6. I always considered an internship to be working for an already established COMPANY…not just some random lady making a website.
7. The lady is confusing: She is very disorganized, sets no deadlines, sends out emails asking us to do stuff, but none are clear — very illogical and scattered.
8. This is a pyramid scheme
9. One thing that sticks out is that the lady hired me on the spot — she hardly even looked at my resume. I did not say much, and was rather out-of-it, but the lady kept asking me, “How are you so smart? Is it genetics?” after the “interview.” I felt this was very strange behavior — esp. since I hardly spoke and I know I did NOT come off as intelligent *due to lack of sleep/nervousness*.
10. She mentioned that everyone she hired before quit.
11. She spells my name wrong 1/2 the time…it is LISTED in the email headers o__0
Please help! I am not sure if I should trust this internship as I have never done one before. I have a lot of free time*although I would like to learn Japanese since I am going abroad there next yr and hardly know any yet!*, but after yesterday and the emails today, I am a bit…paranoid. I live in one of the wealthiest/most innovative/advanced cities in the country/world…so I am sure I could find actual Marketing companies to apply for internships at once I actually start my Business classes…
I always heard how beneficial internships are, but this seems very odd to me…the internship is for one lady lol.
Anyway, Thanks in advance for your answers, and sorry this is so long >o<
It sounds like you have good instincts. You should listen to them and look for a different opportunity. An internship is beneficial, but only if it gives the chance to accomplish things that you can put on your resume. This one may or may not be a scam, but it sounds like a one-off thing for a very disorganized person, which isn’t going to help you much on future job interviews.
I wouldn’t waste my time with this unless you’re really in need of resume fodder. And, frankly, the resume fodder you get from this might not be worth it.
If you really want an internship, contact your local radio stations. They will either know of local programs you can sign up for, or might have you intern for them directly.