25 Intern Memes for the Overworked and Underpaid

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Feb 4, 2025 7:00 PM EST

Being an intern is a humbling experience. When I was in high school, I landed an internship at a fashion magazine and thought I was living the Devil Wears Prada dream. In reality, I was just free labor for a struggling startup that needed all the help and exposure it could get. You'd think by 2025, unpaid internships would be a thing of the past, but nope. Somehow, they still exist. On the flip side, if you've ever supervised interns, sometimes you're glad they're unpaid. The amount of lingering, excessive questions, and straight-up entitlement some college kids have these days is mind-blowing. You'll give them a simple task, and suddenly, it turns into an existential crisis. Of course, not all interns are bad, but some of them could use a little humbling. Whether you're an unpaid intern or dealing with one, these memes are for you.

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  • 01

    As they should.

    The 3-month intern about to diss the whole company operation during the end of term presentation
    via 9gag
  • 02
    No meetings should be held before 10am.
    via 9gag

    Please say it a little louder for the folks in the back. 

  • 03
    When the intern asks "what does that mean" after you explained in a detailed description of what tf you mean
    via ridehaluing
  • 04
    Me very clearly explaining how to execute a basic task Intern who is going to make a series of collosal mistakes regardless
    via workretiredie
  • 05
    # Me The intern that has been emailing me every day for 3 weeks
    via workretiredie
  • 06
    When the Summer interns start - What sort of awful place is this? It's reality. #bigkidproblems
    via bigkidproblems

    Ah, the moment the reality of a summer internship hits. I had to do one for college credit (which, of course, meant it was unpaid, because why wouldn't it be?). Why did we ever think growing up and getting a job was going to be cool? I watched my peers go off to big cities for fancy internships at big-shot companies over the summer semester (seriously, how did they afford that?), thinking they were living the dream. Meanwhile, when my turn rolled around, I got stuck with the harsh reality of a 9-5 grind, unpaid labor, and the slow realization that the whole thing was a façade.

  • 07
    Intern giving his final presentation & explaining that more sales leads to more profits
    via workretiredie
  • 08
    When the internship is "paid"
    via freeze_magazine
  • 09
    I might technically still be young, but my back and my knees? They've already reached retirement age... @Officialworkmemes
    via officialworkmemes
  • 10
    Me coming back from vacation Coworker who CC'd me on emails the entire week I was gone Intern that I just gave sensitivity training to
    via workretiredie
  • 11
    Me applying for a job with no internship experience Alex Former Child Oceanside, CA 25 25 Alex Former Child
    via hkibankmemes
  • 12
    How the summer intern thinks he looks in a meeting vs. what he actually looks like @industrystandards
    via industrystandards
  • 13
    Me trying to train the new employee at work @Officialworkmemes Me New Hire
    via officialworkmemes
  • 14
    Interns are not your servants
    via unpopulardoctor
  • 15
    Got through "May have a meltdown Monday" now I just need to make it through "Try not to quit Tuesday”... @Officialworkmemes
    via officialworkmemes
  • 16
    532 Intern on their way to ask the same question for 57th time
    via promodome_
  • 17
    Mike Follow @michaelcollado How it feels to have a lil show you're looking forward to watching after work
    via michaelcollado
  • 18
    SRGE Skill Surge @skill.surge When your internship pays you with “experience" Congragulations! You are selected I'll get a stipend too, right?? get a stipend too, right??
    via skill.surge
  • 19
    I think I could do with one of these... How to Hold Back Your Sarcastic Comments at Work A Beginner's Guide COfficialworkmemes
    via officialworkmemes
  • 20
    Summer Interns Washington DC
    via the_government_intern
  • 21
    Is it me or do these weekends feel like they're getting shorter and shorter every week... @Officialworkmemes *How is it over already?!*
    via officialworkmemes
  • 22
    When you trust interns to figure things out on their own
    via trenchlifeblog
  • 23
    Me on Monday morning just thinking about how exhausting this week at work is going to be... GOfficialworkimame
    via officialworkmemes
  • 24
    "Doing an internship is not stressful" Mark, 25 y/o
    via intern_god
  • 25
    Them: Wow, your job seems stressful Me: Cofficialworkmemes It's not the job...It's the people
    via officialworkmemes

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salary employee job work memes intern coworkers funny memes underpaid Office workplace paycheck
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