Disclaimer: I am a Reddit lurker and this my first time ever posting, which means that I really need some advice. Also this is a minor problem. No tea here.
So, I have a question: I’ve been doing an internship at this publicly-traded company that touts itself as a decentralized firm that allows people on the ground to make their own decisions and ideally complete the best work.
I’ve been working in their accounting department even though I am a finance major not an accounting major and the work is entirely data entry (it’s one of those things where it’s so simple, even an intern could do it). But they never really explained to me like why it is that we do what we do or why it is important that we do it a certain way and how my work fits into and helps out other departments.
If you were to ask me how to do the work, I can tell you and show you, no problem. But I don’t know how my data entry work fits into the wider accounting department or the company as a whole. I’m a little jealous of my friends in IT because their department does lunch ‘n learns and they get a better understanding of their department and possible future careers but our department doesn’t do that. I literally could not tell you the title and role of the next person above me in my department (like an associate or something at an entry-level position). I started asking more questions because people don’t really explain themselves and kind of expect me to just know what they’re talking about and I’m like I just got here. Despite this, I’m still not quite sure what it is that I do here and I know that I am not the only one. Some older colleagues even told me that they have been here for 3-4 years and still didn’t know how things work in the company.
I am the first to admit that this is a pretty minor struggle to have particularly on this subreddit (y’all have some REAL struggles) but I’m about graduate from college and I guess I just want to know if that is normal at most companies or if it’s is a red flag. It’s made even more weird because the leaders in my department keep on saying that they need more people but they don’t really seem to invest in the interns or be interested in hiring any more like from the get-go (they hired two interns from last year’s program). It almost doesn’t even make any sense because theoretically if you want people to work at your company you would show them why their work is important, how the company works, and potential career paths within the company.
I feel like I’m just complaining about the fact that no one is holding my hand through all this but I don’t like feeling like ignorant and incompetent about my work and career. I guess I should just try harder.
I know that my coworkers are just worrying about themselves and doing their own jobs but I guess what I’m asking is: Is the onus on me to force people to teach me how the company works or do most people have a better onboarding program?
This is my last week so this really just me asking so that I can be aware for next time.