TEST Barcelona

Started as a very happy moment for me, having found some sort of employment in my field in a studio of high aesthetics, and after a long time of job search. I ignored the red flag that is being offered only an internship, citing low Spanish/Catalan knowledge, despite my Master in Architecture and the fact that I already had almost 2 years of working experience under my belt. I started with my best intentions and morale, only to encounter a dysfunctional environment of poor administration and planning, way too many ongoing projects for the team to handle, chaotic conditions and a permanent state of urgency. Us interns were forced to stay overhours on a daily basis, and I was personally, on different occasions, ordered around, pushed to perform faster, and even told that when there is work to do, I can't leave at the end of day unless I have a good reason and only if I have informed them prior. Within the course of a single month, I went from being congratulated on my first tasks, to finding myself in a state of confusion, unable to complete even simple tasks. I was working under no insurance, no contract, and the 400 EUR per month I was promised as an allowance, I had to ask for in order to receive. It took three times of refusing exhaustive overhours and abruptly departing after I was shouted at by my colleague for not rushing enough, for me to be let go before the internship was ever complete. It was a traumatic experience the only redeeming side of which, were the lessons I've learned on what to avoid when looking for viable and healthy employment.