How to Handle Internship Offer(s)

<p>(I posted this in the parents section also.) My daughter has applied for a number of journalism summer internships, has interviewed for a couple in the last few weeks and will be interviewing for a few more in the next week or so. She was contacted today by one of her top choices and offered the position, but it's not her first choice and she still has an interview scheduled with a different one that she would prefer. I advised her to be honest and say that she is considering a couple of other potential offers and to ask if she could have a bit of time before deciding whether or not to accept the offer. Now I'm wondering if that was the proper approach? One is not expected to accept the first offer, is one? (The grandparents say she should have accepted the offer since "a bird in the hand, etc.") Has anyone had experience with multiple internship offers? Was it appropriate for my daughter to ask for a little time before accepting the offer? She felt that the person who offered her the position was a bit taken aback by the fact that she didn't accept immediately, but the person did give her two weeks to decide.</p>

<p>i did the same thing too this summer and i think employers understand that your not only considering their companies. I had three offers from the top three investment banks and i told them that as much as i would like to work with the firm, i would appreciate if i'm given time. Actually this response was just to one since the other two gave me two-three weeks to consider the offer.</p>

<p>You don't want to accept an offer and end up reneging because that tends to land people on the company's blacklist.</p>

<p>at the end of it all, if you think the company that gave you an offer feels everyone is disposable right away and that their many people that could take your place then you have to act fast but like every reasonable company, you should have time to make a decision</p>

<p>My daughter had two internship offers this summer, and she asked for a one-month extension to the deadline when the first offer came. They were very willing to oblige. I think most companies have no problem giving extensions as long as you give them an answer early enough that they have time to recruit another intern if you turn them down.</p>

<p>I have two offers and am waiting on a third, everyone has been really understanding about it so far, I have until next week to reply to the first.</p>