A young product intern’s heartwarming post on Reddit about working 12 to 16 hours a day without receiving a full-time job offer resonated with thousands of students, recent grads, and professionals. The article reignites discussions around startup work culture, unpaid emotional labor, and whether it’s ever worth keeping a permanent job.For many engineering graduates, interning at a promising startup feels like the first step toward a successful career. Our expectations are simple: work hard, learn fast, and eventually earn a full-time position.But for a 25-year-old graduate, that promise remains out of reach.In a post that’s now going viral on Reddit, the young professional revealed that a six-month internship turned into a 10-month wait for a permanent position, despite long hours, repeated reassurances, and constant pressure to “work harder.”The story sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many calling it an example of how young professionals can sometimes be trapped in unhealthy work environments.
Six months of internship turned into ten months of waiting
The intern will graduate in 2024 and join a startup’s product team for a six-month internship, expected to end in April 2026.However, at the end of the internship, the company reportedly made layoffs.The internship was not offered a permanent position but was extended for three months. The intern was guaranteed to be transitioned to full-time status during that time, according to the post.But three months later, there is still no confirmation.Instead, the internship period was extended again.Reportedly, whenever interns asked about becoming full-time employees, the responses were the same: “Work harder,” “Take more responsibility,” and “Get results.”Uncertainty slowly turned into frustration.
Working until midnight…sometimes until 6am
What attracts the most attention is the description of the work schedule.According to the Reddit post, work usually starts around 10 or 11 a.m. On working days, it often lasts until nine o’clock in the evening.However, there is reportedly no fixed end to the work-from-home days.“Some days I work until 6 a.m.,” the intern wrote.The post further claimed that employees were expected to continue working after dinner and were rarely free on weekends, as senior leaders often messaged asking for updates.The intern also said that regular fitness activities had disappeared from daily life, sleep had become irregular, and physical and mental exhaustion had begun to take its toll.
Afraid of walking away
Along with working long hours, this seems to be the one issue that bothers the young professional the most.“I’ve been here for 10 months. If I leave without going full-time, have those 10 months been wasted?”For many recent graduates, this fear feels familiar.After investing several months in an organization, leaving without a permanent position can feel like starting over. This concern becomes more serious when classmates seem to have found stable careers.The intern admitted that this anxiety created “really dark moments” where they felt stuck between carrying on and moving on.
Reddit users offer helpful advice
The post quickly attracted hundreds of comments, with many professionals sharing similar experiences.A common piece of advice is to immediately start applying for permanent positions elsewhere while continuing to intern until you get another offer.Some users believe the company may be using interns as low-cost labor rather than seriously considering permanent hires.Others recommend completing a year of internship at a company before leaving, as a longer internship may look stronger on a resume.Some also suggest requiring employers to provide written timelines for transitions and formal performance feedback, forcing organizations to make clear decisions rather than repeatedly extending internships.
What students and recent graduates can learn
While every workplace is different, career experts generally recommend that internships should focus primarily on learning, mentoring, and skill development.If responsibilities continue to increase but career progression clarity does not, it may be time to evaluate whether the experience is conducive to long-term career development.It’s also important to realize that burnout is not a measure of productivity. Working long hours does not automatically translate into better career outcomes, especially when there is no transparent path to full-time employment.For students entering the job market, this story can serve as a reminder to ask important questions before accepting an internship extension:• Is there a clear timetable for conversion?• What performance expectations must be met?• Is there written communication about the company’s hiring plans?• Are working hours sustainable?As India’s startup ecosystem continues to create exciting opportunities for young professionals, the discussion sparked by this Reddit post highlights another important lesson: There’s value in ambition, but there’s also value in transparency, work-life balance, and knowing when it’s time to move forward.Disclaimer: This article is based on a Reddit post shared by an anonymous user and reflects that person’s personal account. These claims have not been independently verified times of india. This article aims to present online discussions and the wider career-related issues arising from them.
