Saturday May 24 2008
Posted By: 
BioTecKYeah. Yesterday was the last day of my internship. After spending 16 weeks working from 9 till 17:30 it’s time for a well earned vacation! 
The one and only thing I still have to do is, give a presentation at school about my internship period and most importantly about my master exam. After that I have to wait till my graduation. 
So how was my internship?
Well, it wasn’t that bad. 
I mean it was near our house and it took me only 15 minutes on my bike to get there. So I didn’t had to wake up very early. 
The working climate was relax and good. As a trainee I got a lot of responsibilities and there was no-one how kept an eye on me, so that was great cause I love to do things on my own. The very first day that I started I got a project list which I could do beside my master exam project.
The projects were mainly web related, which I didn’t mind to do, and off course some non print projects like designing some advertisement. So you can expect a big portfolio update in the next weeks!
I don’t know how it is in other countries but in Holland internship is like modern slavery! Why? Let me explain: you have to work as hard, actually harder then the normal employees, so in my case I had to work about 40 hours a week and I got paid a bit, the forth of a normal employee! Arguing about it doesn’t help cause, like my school says: You have to be happy when an internship company wants to pay you, so with this mentality you don’t have a lot of choice! Cause none of the internship companies will pay that much for you as a trainee.
So in my opinion: internship is like modern slavery, but it can be a great learning experience!
What do you think about internship!?
Update:
I totally forgot to mention the letter of recommendation which my boss gave me yesterday. It’s so great that there’s not even a single negative word in it!! 
So I’m going to use it while I’m job interviewing!
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Category: Personal | 
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There are 8 comment(s) for this article so far ;)
Congratulations! We call internships apprentices here in Australia and yes they are notoriously underpaid. Yet Australia is in dire need of these sort of skills, but won’t increase the pay. Many do not complete the apprenticeships unless they
are truely motivated. Because after they have completed it, they can earn some good money. I hope that’s the case for you.
Mind you when I did my teaching rounds as a student, I wasn’t paid at all.
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It sounds like Holland. The companies need people but they won’t increase the payments!
It’s a sad thing, but I’m glad that I’m done with it!
In the next weeks I’m going to focus me on a good job with a very good salary!
Fortunately all my internship’s were paid ones!
Hey dude, grats on getting through. Jens right you know, over here there is a major skill shortage, especially where I am, people don’t get paid enough to learn, for example my partner is starting a hair dressing apprenticeship and because she’s over 30 it’s a adult one. but the 4th year who works at the salon is going to be paid less than her and she’s 21 and the owner gets all the grants for having trainees… go figure.
Anyway hope you find a job soon, a good paying one, if you don’t you can always come to WA and get a job driving trucks for around 70-120K a year
I’m looking for my new job as we speak
Joos last blog post..What personality type am I?
Slavery? Really? Wow. Really? Bio? Do you want me to actually list a few of the things slaves have endured?
Listen an internship is a break in the loop. Most GOOD jobs have a catch 22; no experience = no job. No job = no experience. An internship is a backdoor into a system that’s normally closed. If you’re very lucky they’ll actually hire you, if you’re very lucky they’ll pay you, and if you’re very lucky they’ll recommend you. You walked away with 2 out of 3 man. That’s a good deal!
Dave from Welcome Back Rosenthals last blog post..You Have Seen the Horrifying Ghost Video Right?
2 Joo: Yes, the internships or apprentices like you call it in Australia are good for the companies.. Ok, it’s a great learning experience but the thing is that the trainees should be paid more. I know it’s all about learning new skills and see how everything works in the real world, but when you put all your energy and time in it you can’t have a job beside that. Most of the students here in Holland have a job just like me. Before my internship I could work a couple of days in the week, but when my internship started I couldn’t work that much!
I sure hoop to get a decent job.. but I’m going to have a vacation first!
What kind of job are you looking for Joo?
2 Dave: History was my favourite subject back at school so don’t think that I don’t know anything about slavery.
So you don’t have to make a list! 
I got paid, I got a recommendation and I still can work over there! Ok, not 40 hours a week but on project base and with a normal salary.
You’re right about internship and I agree with you. It’s just that in my opinion the trainees are underpaid for the work they have to do!
Btw: I walked away with 3 out of 3!
So don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining, not at all, It’s just that I believe that trainees should paid more.
Well there’s always room for improvement in every deal.
But the very best thing in this situation is that you recognize that even though it was hard you got a good deal. My impression is that you’re a hardworking, honest person; so I was afraid that you had missed the all of the positives because of the negatives.
Thnx Dave..
Nope, Despite the negative parts and the hard work I’m glad that I got a great deal and off course the fact that I passed this hard test!
congratulations for your internship. I hope you will get job soon. Work hard to get more experience.