<p>I'm currently a 3rd year at a top 15 engineering program. I got a good summer internship offer from a good company way back in the first quarter of this year (software engineering). That company was recruiting super early: way earlier than any other companies were. They gave me a deadline on accepting that offer, so I had to accept despite the fact that I didn't have a chance to interview with any other company yet. I mean, what was I going to do? Turn it down hoping that I could get a Google internship in four months? It seemed like I had no choice but to accept it since it was a good internship and they gave me a deadline. </p>
<p>However, this is not my top choice internship and I'd really like to take a shot at some other internships. Can I do this? I didn't sign any legally binding contract, just an online thing that said I was accepting the offer. I know for a fact I could TECHNICALLY drop the internship, but would it be wrong and/or hurt my reputation in some way? Would they call neighbor companies and tell them about what a jerk I was? Clearly I would be as apologetic and nice as about it as possible if I decided to quit. This might be my last opportunity for an internship and I want to take a shot at some dream internships. </p>
<p>They probably won’t blackball you with other companies, but aside from that, I think that you should honor your contract with them. It’s only an internship, so you might instead save your hard ball job negotiating skills for when you start your actual post college career.</p>
<p>If you were my child, I would not let you back out of this commitment.
You did not have to accept the offer. Once you did, it became your responsibility.</p>
<p>This is so morally wrong? My mom has no control over whether I back out of or acknowledge this commitment. Though she is on the “encouraging me to do what’s best for my future career” side of things, meaning she supports me looking for the best internship possible considering it probably won’t hurt this company. My dad, who is a manager at a major engineering company also doesn’t feel like it’s nearly a big a deal as you guys do. That’s irrelevant though.</p>
<p>Not that I’m saying that it’s the right choice to accept a better internship (or saying that I will), but a few things that you guys might not be considering:
They probably know this could happen. By recruiting way before any other company, their goal was to get the best students before they had a chance to talk to other companies.
It’s a big company that probably takes at least a thousand interns each summer, and I struggle to think it’s going to be that big of a deal for them if one drops.
I haven’t actually started yet. They haven’t put any time into training me or anything like that.</p>
<p>I’m trying to look out for my best interest. I would not be rescinding this offer if I got a slightly better offer from another company. I’m talking about applying for literally dream internships that would kick start a fantastic career: only then would I consider it.</p>
<p>Yes I have heard of it. I have a terms of employment form, and the first line of that contract is “either the employee or the employer can voluntarily cancel this employment at anytime without any advance notice.”</p>
<p>You don’t owe this stupid company anything. If you find a better internship offer, you should absolutely take it.</p>
<p>Trust me, these big companies would fire you in a heartbeat the minute the economy goes bad. Save your loyalty for someone who will reciprocate it.</p>
<p>Honestly, I wouldn’t think of you any less of a person if you were to back away from this offer. A lot of companies probably pull off these kind of tricks, offer internships earlier so students who are accept are pressured in to committing before they have a chance to apply elsewhere.</p>
<p>But of course, there’s always the “Two wrongs don’t make a right” saying. But besides that, if your dad is a manager at a major business company, why not just get an internship with him?</p>
<p>Calvin: Why would I get an internship at my dad’s company? I doubt an internship at his company would be any better than the one I already have or potentially could get, so I don’t really have any reason to do that. Besides that, I’m not really interested in working for his company.</p>
<p>Don’t expect them to welcome you back in the future if things go sour elsewhere. However, I don’t think they would go tell other companies on their own.</p>
<p>Just keep in mind it’s a small world out there; who knows who you may run into again in the future… I know I’ve run into a few people from previous companies and/or previous projects and I’ve only been working for a couple of years. Then again, it may be different in the software industry as opposed to the construction industry that I work in.</p>
<p>As for the running into people in the future, I’ve yet to actually meet anyone at the company. The only person I’ve seen was the guy who interviewed me.</p>
<p>The company I used to work for was short an intern one summer because somebody backed out at the last minute. I was tasked to recruit someone and found a friend who was interested. He actually backed out of his internship with the buildings department here to join my company in mid to late May. He did quite well and eventually landed a full-time position.</p>
<p>At a different company I worked for, there was an intern who worked a summer here in New York, and then went back to Pittsburgh for school. My company somehow found out that he ended up working for a competitor there during the school year (he had come back to us to interview for a full time position the following year). Not sure how things turned out for him, but it must have been pretty awkward.</p>
<p>Just think your situation through carefully. Whatever you do, there will always be a risk; it’s up to you to decide whether or not it’s one worth taking.</p>
<p>Alright thanks for the feedback. I’ve decided not to do this. Instead I’ll push for getting the prestigious internships I really want next year.</p>
Sorry for necroposting, but I believe you can definitely change your internship (if anyone is in this position). So many times company’s go under and have to cancel student internships due to lack of funds. You literally mean nothing to your company as an intern so there is absolutely no reason you should respect an inanimate corporation. If you found a better internship, go for it – its called the free market.