This is the second week of my internship at the Office of Student Life, and I have discovered something about myself: I am very uncomfortable working with someone who is flexible. The most difficult part of the internship so far is learning the business details. My boss lets me come and go as I please and I find that very frustrating. It's difficult to know what someone expects of you when they give you complete discretion. I've been given flexibility on hours, atmosphere, and projects.
The reason I am so uncomfortable with a flexible boss could be because I have always been in very structured work environments. I've never had a professional job before since I've been completely underqualified. I've worked in the restaurant business since I've been in college, so an internship in which I sit at a computer or discuss whether or not to use a particular phrase is a very different experience for me. I am really having a hard time adjusting.
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Very interesting self-reflection here, Jennifer. Is there a possibility for you to work with the flexibility that your supervisor's given you and create a structured work schedule, work plan, meeting schedule that you can stick to? Also, when I'm working with people who seem to be really unstructured in their work habits and work environments, it can be useful to come to each meeting with a specific set of questions, concerns that you'd like to address with your supervisor. That way you perhaps can begin to give some shape and structure to the beginning of each work session.
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