The audit internship is much tougher than I expected. It is the peak period now, which lasts till June. I have been working overtime for this first week, without being paid for it!

I cannot accept that my time is no longer my time, especially when I do not get paid for it. I cannot accept that Fridays could mean exceptionally long overtime hours. I cannot accept that the tasks given to me are unpredictable and so last minute. I cannot accept skipping Aikido, which I have paid for just for overtime that I’m not being paid for. I’ve already fallen sick on Thursday and have been getting migraines on a daily basis.

I can confidently say now that auditing is not the job for me.

Thusfar, the internship has taught me that:

• Ngee Ann Poly has ridiculous reports and projects for us to prepare in conjunction with the internship
• when vouching for documents, wear gloves; you are prone to getting paper cuts when rushing.
• I’ve been scammed by the cab driver today, because he took the longer route to the client’s office.
• I cannot fit more than 50 sheets of paper into a hole-puncher.
• most people mistake me for a Malay because of my skin colour and talk to me in malay. ( I was damn pissed by the bloody cleaner who stated that I ought to know malay because I’m Singaporean and shows me his stupid attitude face. Fuck off toilet cleaner…)
• many cabbies and clients think I’m a foreigner (cabbies think I’m from India, USA and whatsoever, the client thought I was from Philippines)
• my temper rises steadily when given overtime on Friday, when I expressly informed them two days ago that I had something on.

Nonetheless, I also see the value of the audit internship because…

• it gives me a good foundation in understanding how businesses and the accounting process works ( I intend to start a business )
• it forces me to value the little time I have
• it forces me to learn to let go of small and big issues I face and live within the moment
• it means I won’t make the mistake of becoming an auditor in the future (it’s not the job, it’s the lack of personal time and unpredictability of daily workload that puts me off)
• it forces me to kick-start the businesses I intend to start

Logen L.