is this internship actually helping you?

Most internships are sold as learning experiences. Some of them are. A lot of them are free labour dressed up in a lanyard.

The difference matters, but you're usually too deep inside it to judge. You're grateful, scared to seem ungrateful, and don't have enough experience to know whether what you're getting is normal or a waste of your time.

This guide gives you the questions to ask at every stage.

Part one: before you accept

10 questions to ask any company before saying yes, 7 red flags that aren't obvious, and 7 green flags worth noticing.

Part two: while you're in it

12 weekly gut-check questions across your work, your learning, and your environment. A scoring guide. What to do when it's not working.

Part three: after it's over

8 exit evaluation questions, a one-page summary template, and how to frame a bad internship on your resume, portfolio, and in interviews.

Written from both sides, as someone who's been the intern and evaluated interns.

Format: PDF, 20 slides, instant download. Free.