After spending the summer doing a remote internship, I learned a lot about myself and the industry. But I don’t know if I’d do it again.
After deciding I wasn’t going to do a postgraduate course, I started applying for everything and anything that was relevant to my course. Jobs, volunteer work, graduate schemes and internships – I applied to so many I lost track. I studied English and Creative Writing, so there was a real range of things I could apply for, particularly as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue as a career.
During uni, I really took to the editing process. Going over my own and others’ work with a fine-tooth comb to make it the best it could possibly be. So, when a remote internship came up at a publishing company, it seemed ideal.
The Waiting Game
Some, I heard back from pretty quickly. Normally, the no’s came quicker than the yeses – but I heard back from a writing job pretty quickly which now I absolutely love. However, as time went on I just didn’t hear back from places, so thought nothing else about them and moved on.
Two months after I applied for the internship, I was lying in bed when I finally got a response. Although the job specifics changed slightly, it was still something I was massively interested in. I could do it from home, fit it in around my part-time job and it was something I was interested in. It was a no-brainer. I quickly replied that I was very happy to accept and get started.
Doing It In Practice
First and foremost, everyone that I communicated with was really lovely. Constantly reassuring and checking in with me a lot. But the thing about a remote internship is that you do it alone. If I had any issues, I had to wait for an email which could take a few days, instead of just popping my head around a door. Some of the tasks were a little mundane (I expected that with an internship) but they still taught me some of the ins and outs of publishing.
One thing is for certain, I am a real whizz at Microsoft Excel now.
Lots of the time I had to figure stuff out on my own. That was always frustrating at first, but it taught me to fend for myself which I know will be a key skill going forward.
Quickly, I became in charge of the inbox and I felt a real sense of achievement communicating with clients and authors. Using the phrase ‘Oh, I work in publishing’ slipped off the tongue with ease.
At this point, I was really enjoying the little responsibility I had.
Nearing The End
Towards the end, I was offered a job with the company and, initially, I was thrilled.
With it being a remote internship, I was never really sure how I was doing. Over email, it’s really hard to gauge how truthful feedback is or if the ‘great job!’ was really sincere. To my own detriment, I’m a real people pleaser, so the thought of not impressing plagued me. So, to be offered a job proved that I must have done something right, so I went to accept.
And then I thought about it.
Was I just saying yes because I didn’t want the internship to amount to nothing?
Knowing When To Say No
After talking about it with loved ones, I turned it down. The job offered would’ve been more time-consuming than it was worth. It was a shame because I had enjoyed my time there, but I certainly hadn’t gained nothing being there. I was getting a glowing reference, as well as dozens of transferable skills, to apply to a career I really wanted to pursue.
Having technically worked three jobs over the summer, I was looking forward to the extra time to dedicate to other passions. Time to recuperate and focus on what I actually wanted to do next. I definitely don’t regret doing the internship, but pursuing it further wasn’t for me and that’s perfectly okay too.
Learning that not everything has to directly forward my career might have been the most valuable lesson of all.