[tjr]

I would like to suggest for those in position to hire interns: either give them something to do, or blatantly tell them that you have nothing for them to do. And if there's nothing for them to do, make it clear that their job is now to study or tinker on their own projects until there is something to do.

I worked a semester as an intern at a big technology company, and was constantly pleading with people to give me something to do. They usually didn't, so I ended up just reading books or writing toy programs. And then management got mad at me for not doing any real work, so I went back to everyone I could find pleading for work. And so the cycle went. I hated it, and the most notable thing I learned was that I did not want to work for that company ever again.

[afdssfda]

This isn't just a problem for interns. Some jobs are just like that. They won't lay out what you need to do. It can be frustrating, but it is also an opportunity to learn either to function under frustration and duress or how you react to that. Learning about yourself otherwise may not happen until much later in life (i.e. midlife crisis). However, a smarter thing to do is to get a job that is more well-suited. Life is short.

[tjr]

I guess I've been fortunate to have had jobs with actual tasks to get done since then, and mis-attributed the awkward situation to the realm of internships. I stand corrected.