All the time, I hear from friends and read about the importance of the summer internship before senior year. It's often viewed as the first step towards whichever industry/company you could potentially be working in after college. And with big steps come great responsibilities (Spiderman reference). In this post I'm going to give some tips on determining which internship would be best for you, practicing proper etiquette with offer deadlines, and declining/accepting internships once you've made your decision.
The Decision
I wouldn't say that my decision was quite like Lebron James' infamous ESPN segment announcing his move to South Beach, Miami. The media and paparazzi certainly left me alone to decide this one for myself. What I found most difficult about my decision was that after going through each company's interview rounds, I felt very connected to each organization's mission and the position that I was applying to. It was difficult to realize that I would not be able meet with all of these interesting and thoughtful people outside of a phone or Skype interview. But I had to make the decision, and I did so with mucy career counseling and advice. Here are some of the common factors to consider when choosing between multiple offers:
- Location, Location, Location
- Location of your summer internship is very important, especially if you don't live near a major city. Even if you are going to live at home, you have to figure out how you are going to commute to work. If you're looking to take a position in a new city, here are some resources for students looking for housing. Tufts even has grants available for summer housing!
- Don't choose an internship location blindly. Moving somewhere new can include some hidden costs that you should be aware of before signing that offer! Housing, commuting and parking expenses will take a toll on your finances, so this is another factor that is important to consider.
- Job description
- Do you like the job description? This is, perhaps, the most important aspect of choosing an internship. Think about how each internship would effect your future. What will your choice say about your experiences? How will people understand the way this internships fits in with the rest of your resume?
- Gaining valuable experience
- Make sure the role is something in which you want to gain experience and are interested! Now is the time to try out departments you always wanted to explore and that fit in with your career goals.
- Is this something specific that you want to do in the future!? If not, you should probably pick the internship that you are most interested in pursuing after you graduate. Not only will this give you a chance to test out a certain field, but it also puts you in a place you could potentially work at after graduation (If you're a GREAT intern, that is!)
- Opportunity to network
- If you're not particularly sure what you want to do, rotational internships are perfect for you! You can experience working in different departments, and assess which is best for you.
- When choosing among different internship opportunities, assess which one has the best networking opportunities.
Deadlines
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| Source "Don't be nervous, just go to the Career Center!" |
So you've got an offer (or two). Congratulations! Now you have to decide whether you want to work there. Is this internship your first choice, or are you waiting to see if you receive another offer? Situations like this show why it's important to be honest during the interview process, and to keep companies aware that you may have other offers in the works. This keeps the recruiter/HR rep aware of how quickly they'll need to respond to you, or if you need extra time for a deadline. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension if you need it!
My advice for this is just to keep everyone aware, so that you can make the best decision for yourself and not feel pressured by offer deadlines. Don't rush, and if you need career advice always feel free to make an appointment or stop by Drop-In Hours at the Career Center!
My advice for this is just to keep everyone aware, so that you can make the best decision for yourself and not feel pressured by offer deadlines. Don't rush, and if you need career advice always feel free to make an appointment or stop by Drop-In Hours at the Career Center!
To Be or Not to Be: How to Decline/Accept an Offer
Accepting my offer was pretty simple. I thanked them for their time interviewing me and told them that I had decided to accept the position.
On the other hand, I felt that declining an offer was very difficult. Especially after a long interview process when you've done so much research, dedicated so much time, and were really excited about the position. However, you do have to make a decision if you have multiple offers. Unfortunately, you can't be working at several places at the same time like Hermoine (HP Reference). Here is a great post on how to Gracefully Turn Down a Job Offer by The Muse - one of my favorite up and coming career blogs.
Declining an offer isn't the end of the world. Feel free to still stay in touch with the internship/company if you would still like to work with them in the future! Staying in touch goes a long way, and it keeps a contact in your network rather than permanently ending communication.
On the other hand, I felt that declining an offer was very difficult. Especially after a long interview process when you've done so much research, dedicated so much time, and were really excited about the position. However, you do have to make a decision if you have multiple offers. Unfortunately, you can't be working at several places at the same time like Hermoine (HP Reference). Here is a great post on how to Gracefully Turn Down a Job Offer by The Muse - one of my favorite up and coming career blogs.
Declining an offer isn't the end of the world. Feel free to still stay in touch with the internship/company if you would still like to work with them in the future! Staying in touch goes a long way, and it keeps a contact in your network rather than permanently ending communication.
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| Source "Get ready for the summer! Prepare better than this turtle!" |
I hope this posts helps with making the tough decisions, especially for those who are waiting to hear back from companies. Summer is almost here, and I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of campus life. We've all survived a crazy winter and deserve to have the best summer ever.
Carpe Diem,
Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016
