At my internship site, the interns and post-docs are collectively expected to give the program a gift of some sort. Anyone else have this expectation? If so, what are you giving the program?
Internship gift?
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We made custom mugs for our supervisors with a pic of our intern cohort & a nickname on then. We used Cafe Press (or similar?).
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What kind of expectation is this?! Gifts should never be expected in this sort of professional setting.
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Expected?
You spend god knows how much money flying all over the damn country putting on your "dog and pony show", they dont offer to pay for a thing, and they "expect" a gift at the end of the year? Get real...
Its one thing to pitch-in as a group and buy your TD or a supervisor a silly gift or something, it quite a another to have this as an "expectation."
You spend god knows how much money flying all over the damn country putting on your "dog and pony show", they dont offer to pay for a thing, and they "expect" a gift at the end of the year? Get real...
Its one thing to pitch-in as a group and buy your TD or a supervisor a silly gift or something, it quite a another to have this as an "expectation."
D
deleted106747
Seriously.
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Just to clarify, our "gift" wasn't expected. There is a tradition to do a Roast at the end of the year of the clinical staff/mentors, our gift just fit in with the festivities. A prior year made a calendar with photoshopped pictures of the staff, while other years did skits, mock powerpoint presentations, etc. It was one of many traditions.
I'd be a bit befuddled if I was expected to buy my mentors a gift.
D
deleted106747
This is cute, but I'm SO glad there were no such traditions at my internship. Getting everything together to end was enough stress!
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The DCT mentioned it at the beginning of the year as one of the traditions, and it was quickly forgotten. With about 2 months left to go our DCT asked us if we started working on our Roast, and all four of us were like 😱. We got 90% of it done over lunch, and thankfully the Internet did the rest!
My favorite tradition was "The Year in Review". Each intern is given a copy of a narration done by a senior staff member which recounts the various events of the training year for the supervisors, interns, and support staff. It was something they started ~10 years ago, though only recently did it go digital
. They also have a scrapbook that contains a picture of each graduating internship class, which gets passed down to each DCT. They sounded like hokey traditions at the beginning of the year, but I am now grateful that I was a part of each one.
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Did people give gifts to their externship supervisors as well? Just wondering because I will be finishing my first externship soon.
I gave two of my externship supervisors gifts, but small gifts! I baked one of my supervisors chocolate chip cookies and the other I gave a book about the history of the psychiatric hospital we were working at. It's a very historic hospital and he just loved books. Earlier in the year he mentioned wanting the book but couldn't find it for a decent price...I found it on LuLu for cheap! I also gave them both cards just expressing my thanks. Other supervisors I have had I haven't bought gifts though...I guess I wasn't as close to them, it didn't really cross my mind.
I don't think it's necessary, but if you have a good relationship, it's nice to give something small!
I agree that this program "tradition" seems ridiculous. We're also expected to put on some sort of skit or show for them.
The gift is definitely an expectation, and it's very apparent that a cute mug or calendar just wont due. Last year the interns gifted a small refrigerator for the office. The year before, the group gave a television for the waiting room. It's also "tradition" to give the TD a personal gift as well. Now, we're at a loss of what to give the program that will fit in line with what's expected and also not break the bank.
The gift is definitely an expectation, and it's very apparent that a cute mug or calendar just wont due. Last year the interns gifted a small refrigerator for the office. The year before, the group gave a television for the waiting room. It's also "tradition" to give the TD a personal gift as well. Now, we're at a loss of what to give the program that will fit in line with what's expected and also not break the bank.
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absolutely ridiculous. this is internship. get hours. write papers. defend diss.
if you want summer camp, go to summer camp!! (and this is coming from arguably the most "let's do surprise birthday things and get cohort t-shirts!" student in my program)
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Do NOT continue the "tradition." Its that simple.
It is unfair to the interns...who are already working for slave wages and cannot be expected to spend money on the site (AGAIN!!!) that they will be part of for one year!
It borders on unethical as well. There is an inherent power differential between intern and supervisors/Training Director and this differential should not be exploited or used so the site can get a new frige for the office or a new freaking television! Thats ridiculous and exploitative. You should not be expected to "invest" in their business/facility. That's not your concern and its NOT your role. You provide valuable clincial services for a very small annual wage. You are there to learn. They are they to train and supervise. Period. Lets not make things more complicated than this.
If asked why you are declining to participate, cite this logic and your ethical concerns. I would tie this back to the APA ethics code as well.
PS: And by the way..a skit or show???!! What is this...summer camp? I am 29 years old and have a wife and a young child (as many interns probably do). I really dont think this is a good use of my time right now. Give me a break...
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Well not to say that it isn't a silly tradition, but at the end of the day a lot of your success in the world will be determined as much by the connections you make as by your skills and abilities. Doing things to make a lasting impression on the people you work with in your internship doesn't seem like such a bad thing.
As for gift ideas, it sounds like the last 2 years they got basic and probably inexpensive appliances that the institution had a use for. Maybe you can find something else that they should have but don't.
As for gift ideas, it sounds like the last 2 years they got basic and probably inexpensive appliances that the institution had a use for. Maybe you can find something else that they should have but don't.
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Its not the act, its the expectation. For the site itself to make this known to the interns is exploitative (ie., " well...last year we got a new TV..wink, wink, hint, hint).
If it happens without the sites knowledge or advisement (even if they secretly hope someone will get them something) from a purely grassroots movement within the intern body, then fine.
I agree with you there. I'm kind of assuming that it's just something that a bunch of students did that the next group copied and it become a tradition. If the site is actually telling students that they expect a gift then that's a little shady. Of course the difference between spontaneous grassroots tradition and expectation is often just one of time.
A TV or fridge seem really over the top for me. What kind of tradition is this? More like a tradition of abusing interns who are earning poverty wages. Do they also accept TV's and Ipods from their clients?
