I began a frontend internship about three weeks ago and I’m feeling very lost. When I took the position, I was informed that I would be joining an established frontend team, but it turns out I’m the sole frontend developer here.
My supervisor is a backend engineer who lacks knowledge in frontend development. He often poses perplexing questions that confuse me. For instance, he suggested using Next.js with their Flask backend, which isn’t a good match, so I opted for React instead, but he questioned my choice.
Here are the main challenges I’m encountering:
- There are no code reviews or feedback provided for my work.
- I’m required to devise my own project plans and tasks without any assistance.
- When I ask for support, responses take a long time.
- The questions from my manager often lead me astray because he doesn’t fully grasp frontend concepts.
I feel I’m not acquiring much knowledge and I’m just making educated guesses. There’s no one to guide me or confirm if I’m on the right path. I’m concerned that this experience might negatively impact my development abilities rather than enhance them.
Should I continue with this internship or pursue other opportunities? I’ve only been here for a short while, but I don’t want to waste time in a role that isn’t conducive to my growth. Have any of you experienced something similar?
I’ve been there during my second internship - the frustration is real when you’re flying blind without proper mentorship. Yes, it can be tough for learning; however, you’re also developing essential self-reliance skills that many developers lack. Make sure to document everything you’re working on, along with the reasoning behind your choices, as this will add value to your portfolio later. If you decide to stay, try to set up regular meetings with your supervisor, ensuring you come prepared with specific questions about business requirements, while handling the technical aspects on your own. This situation may compel you to research best practices independently and enhance your confidence in your technical decisions. However, if you think you can secure another internship with legitimate mentorship within the next month, it might be wise to jump ship. Just consider your immediate learning opportunities against the long-term skills you’re acquiring now.
wow, that’s tough! have you mentioned to your supervisor about needing regular check-ins? he might not be aware of your struggles. also, maybe chat with other devs in the company? even backend folks can give useful insights when you’re in a bind.
this hits close to home - sounds exactly like my first internship disaster. getting thrown in without guidance sucks, but you’re getting hands-on experience most interns never see. try connecting with frontend devs on LinkedIn or Discord for some informal mentoring. document your decisions so you can defend them later. if it’s messing with your mental health tho, start looking for something else.