The Intern’s Survival Guide: A Satirical Script on Internship Realities
In a personal essay for Creative Gaga, the author reflects on their internship experiences, particularly at BUCK in 2023, where they began writing a satirical animated script titled 'The Intern’s Survival Guide.' The script, never completed, humorously addressed caffeine dependency, procrastination, imposter syndrome, and fake confidence. The essay critiques the common binary framing of internships as solely paid vs. unpaid, arguing that payment signals respect but does not guarantee meaningful learning or inclusion. The author asserts that all internships should be paid, yet notes that paid internships can still leave interns isolated and task-focused without context, while unpaid ones may offer access but remain exploitative. The piece emphasizes that neither payment nor lack thereof ensures a valuable experience, and that employers often fail to define learning outcomes or provide feedback. The essay is part of Issue 70 of Creative Gaga's print edition.
Key facts
- The author interned at BUCK in 2023.
- They wrote a script called 'The Intern’s Survival Guide' during that internship.
- The script was intended as a short, absurd, satirical animated piece.
- The script was never completed.
- The essay argues that all internships should be paid.
- Payment is seen as a signal of respect but not equivalent to value or learning.
- Paid internships can still lack inclusion and context.
- Unpaid internships are problematic but may offer access.
Entities
Institutions
- BUCK
- Creative Gaga