fk internships

internships aren’t real jobs, they’re just experiences corporations sell to desperate students (coming from someone with near 5.0 GPA, leadership, and a decent portfolio)

i’m so tired of the internship hype at uni. every convo is “what are you doing this summer?” or “where did you apply?” like we’re all NPCs stuck in some side quest for LinkedIn clout. it’s gotten to the point where not having an internship feels like a public failure, like you’re just falling off the face of the earth while everyone else climbs the ladder.

and here’s the thing, i have the resume. i’m not some clueless student slacking off. near 5.0 GPA. multiple leadership roles. a decent portfolio. i’ve done my projects, gotten good feedback, followed the rules. on paper, i’m exactly what companies say they want. and yet? still getting ghosted. still going up against insane competition. still struggling to land something that isn’t mostly copy-paste work with a corporate logo slapped on it.

i’ve even interned at a top american bank and let me tell you, the reality does not match the hype. sure, the name’s shiny. but the work? you’re mostly sitting in meetings, tweaking slides, or doing low-stakes tasks no one will remember you for. and the return offers? single digits. like 1–2 return offers for a whole intern batch. it’s ridiculous.

yet every year students get sold the same dream: that if you just work hard enough, network, grind, hustle , you’ll land the internship. the magical role that’ll “set your career.” but most people don’t. most people never even come close. and it’s not because they’re lazy or unqualified. it’s because the system is built for scarcity and flexing, not opportunity.

companies know we need experience to get jobs. so they sell it back to us. they dangle it like bait while making us jump through hoops, overwork ourselves, and feel like absolute shit if we fall short. they don’t care if you’re smart, or hardworking, or well-rounded. if you’re not already “in” through referrals, alumni, or pure dumb luck, good luck.

i’m not saying internships are useless. but let’s stop pretending they’re these life-changing career breakthroughs. they’re jobs. temporary, transactional, and 90% of the time, more about optics than actual learning.

and i say this as someone who checked all the boxes. if i’m still struggling to make it through this game, what does that say about the system? because it sure as hell doesn’t feel fair.