Cancel your internship - Professionally and self-confidently

It can happen so quickly: One minute you were full of anticipation - and now you're thinking about ending the internship prematurely. The lousy working atmosphere weighs on your mood, the tasks are undemanding and you ask yourself the question: "Should I cancel the internship or see it through?" If you're facing this difficult decision right now, this post is for you.

Serve the time or cancel the internship?

This is not a decision to make right on day one. Give it a chance first, even if you may have imagined your reception at the company differently. Wait a few days, maybe your colleagues are nice and your tasks are more demanding than you first thought. However, if your first impression is confirmed, do not hesitate to talk to your superior first. Be respectful in your criticism and try to make suggestions for improvement or express wishes that will help you in your situation. This way, they will be made directly aware and can react accordingly.

If nothing improves despite all your efforts, then you don't have to feel bad about ending the internship early. Don't take it as a bad omen for your future career. After all, the purpose of an internship is to find out which career path you want to take later on and which one you don't want to take. If your internship is causing you more grief than joy, then you should opt to cut it. More on that in a moment.

10 reasons to quit your internship. How to quit a job

You always finish what you've started. That's a good attitude, but exceptions prove the rule. Of course, we advise you not to quit straight away, but if it's not right in the first place, then it's okay if you want to quit your internship.

Here are ten situations when you should end your internship early

1. You are on the wrong track: You have discovered that, contrary to your expectations, you do not like this field of work at all. All the better! Now you see things more clearly and at least know what you don't want.
2. The tasks are too much for you: Do you feel that you are being given tasks that require more work experience? You basically enjoy what you do, but the area of responsibility exceeds your current abilities. Then pull the ripcord. After all, the internship is there for you to learn.
3. You encounter a toxic working environment: For your colleagues it seems to be the normal working day, but especially as a newbie the bad working environment literally eats you up. Even in the boardroom, the tone leaves a lot to be desired and the tension is palpable. If the mood just gets to you, then you should stop your internship.
4. Lack of respect for interns: Sometimes in the professional world you will meet experienced employees who have forgotten that they were also beginners. If there is no mutual respect, you can end your internship prematurely.
5. There is no contact person for you: No one feels responsible for you, and you just wander along and feel lost. This is not how a good internship should be.
6. You are made to do everything: Making coffee, configuring equipment, copying and calling the courier are your main tasks? It's time to move on.
7. Cheap labour - you feel exploited: You work your back off for your small internship salary instead of learning new things? Just don't get burnt out. Remember, you can cancel your internship.
8. Your wages aren't received on time: Something like this can happen. But if it is regular, then that is a reason to end your internship early.
9. You are accepted for the internship of your dreams:It's not the nicest thing to say, but if a unique opportunity for an internship at your dream company arises at short notice, don't hesitate for long, but make the move.
10. The company just doesn't suit you: You really wanted to try out an internship in a start-up and found out that it's just not your thing? Or did you end up in a large corporation and now feel like just one of many? You can go through with the internship, but if you think it won't get you anywhere, drop out.

Can you just drop out of an internship like that?

Yes, as an intern you have the right to end your internship early. How to hand in your notice: If you want to terminate a voluntary internship, you basically have three options:

1. termination agreement
2. ordinary termination
3. termination without notice

In the case of a termination agreement, the intern and the employer terminate the internship by mutual agreement. In this case, the internship can be terminated promptly and you are not dependent on the regular notice periods from the employment contract. After the end of the probationary period, you have the option of ordinary termination. The notice periods play a role here, because you can only terminate your internship with due notice. Take a look at your employment contract, the notice period is usually four to six weeks. If there is cause, you have the right of termination without notice. Reasons for termination are, for example, late payment, sexual harassment or insults.

For a compulsory internship, you should first inform your university. After all, the point of a compulsory internship is to provide proof of performance for your degree. For this, you must have spent a certain number of days in a company. It is therefore advisable to first look for a new internship place and only then finish the current internship.

Good to know: Under certain circumstances, you can have the internship time you have already completed credited to your compulsory internship. Talk to your university about it.

Cancelling an internship - be self-confident, but fair

You have tried everything to point out that you are not happy in the internship. You have talked to your superior, but things have not improved much? Then you should stop wasting your time. Quit, but do so wisely in order to make as clean a cut as possible.

1. Are there notice periods? During the probationary period, you can terminate the contract without giving reasons. After that, you usually have a notice period of four to six weeks.
2. Inform your employer personally and in writing that you want to end your internship early.
3. Try to remain friendly at all times and don't let yourself feel insecure about your plans. After all, you have given a lot of thought to this step.
4. Be sympathetic to the other side and make fair compromises.
5. Show your willingness to work and your best side until the last day. You never know what else it can be good for.

Summary: As an intern, you can be true to yourself and don't have to go all the way at any cost just because that's what's expected of you. Don't put up with everything, there is always a plan B. However, it's worth addressing problems first before throwing in the towel. But if you don't see any positive development for yourself, you can be confident and end the internship early. In general, a friendly and professional manner is the best way to reach your goal. Try to part on good terms if possible.

Do you want to cancel your internship and start a new one right away? At JobTeaser you will find an internship that suits your needs.

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