Is it acceptable to delay accepting an internship offer to interview for another?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>First of all, sorry this is so lengthy. I’m just trying to paint the situation as clearly as I can.</p>

<p>I have two potential summer internship opportunities that I’ll refer to as internships A and B respectively.</p>

<p>I recently interviewed for internship A and I can say that I really enjoyed my time visiting. The people I would be working with are very nice and laid back, there are a lot of opportunities for me to get involved in interesting projects, and I think I would learn more than I could have imagined. Plus, they’re very flexible in terms of work scheduling, which is a plus in my situation.</p>

<p>When I finished the interview for internship A, I walked out feeling like it couldn’t have gone much better. It really was one of the best interviews I’ve had in a while. So, while I can’t say for certain of course, I think there is a serious possibility of being offered the position sometime next week. (At one point, the interviewer stated that applicants would be hearing decisions next week, but throughout the rest of the interview, she kept saying, “I’ll call you next week.” I know that nothing is certain in terms of offers until the offer is officially made, but I would say that is a reasonably good sign! And I think we had a very good rapport; the conversation flowed pretty well and she replied, "Perfect" to a lot of my responses.)</p>

<p>The problem is that I’ve just been invited to interview for internship B late next week. Internship B is recognized as being more competitive and the type of internship itself is very well respected. But the fact is, both internships could potentially offer similar opportunities to learn and to be involved in a lot of fascinating activities. (Although I kind of think A might provide a bit more hands-on experience in some areas due to the up-and-coming nature of some aspects of the job, but I can’t say for certain that B would not provide as much if not even more involvement--B does operate on a larger scale. But either way, interviewing with B would help me get a feel for what I would be working on on a daily basis.)</p>

<p>I’m led to believe that B is more highly acclaimed and thus more eye-catching on a resume to future recruiters and employers. It might give me more of an edge, so to speak. Though I'm sure the potential to meet people and network exists for both internships, I’m curious about the possible doors B might open down the line. I can’t speak to the overall vibe of the work environment and the people there because, again, I haven’t interviewed there yet. But the recruiter remembered me from a career fair and emailed me, reminding me to fill out an online application so as to ensure I got an interview. This leads me to think that maybe I have a shot at this position.</p>

<p>In a nutshell, my question is this: in the event that internship A calls me back and extends an offer early next week before I get to interview for internship B later in the week, is it acceptable for me to delay accepting A's offer until I’ve had the chance to interview for internship B? If so, how would I go about asking that? How long of a delay is acceptable to ask for? Would this offend A, even if I later came back and accepted their offer? I'd like to avoid burning bridges before I've even crossed any...and preferably AFTER I've crossed any too.</p>

<p>And if I do receive an offer from A next week and I still manage to interview with B, I’ve heard career advice stating that already having an offer would expedite B’s decision. Is this true? That's not something I would mention in the interview itself though, would I? I’m inclined to think that would apply to following up after the interview.</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for reading. Advice, comments, questions welcome! :)</p>

2

<p>Tough situation.</p>

<p>I think asking employer A to wait on your decision while you wait to hear from employer B would suggest to A that they are your second choice and that might not go over well. I think at this point, all you can do is wait and see and hope for the best. You might get an interview with B and then before you hear from them, A might offer you the internship and may want an answer from you within 1-3 days. That happens sometimes and you either have to take the bird in the hand (A) or turn down the bird and take a risk on B. </p>

<p>Between these two options, it doesn’t really sound like you can go wrong, though. With A, you’ll get the skills and hands-on experience, which some people would argue is what really matters; with B, it sounds like you’ll get a brand name. Brand names are important mainly if they’re in your field, but they’re not the end-all be-all. Their biggest advantage is providing you with an opportunity to make connections. </p>

<p>I would say just wait and see. If A offers you something before you can get the ball rolling with B, you’ll have to make a tough decision. Who knows, though! Maybe A will make an offer while you’re waiting to hear a final, post-interview response from B and you’ll have time to hem-and-haw for a few days before you have to give A a final answer. But even if you’re able to actually choose between both offers at the same time, remember that the decision is still gonna be tough.</p>

<p>Leveraging one offer against another is effective when you’re a skilled worker in high demand, but in the highly competitive area of student internships, I don’t think telling B that you’re likely to hear from A soon will necessary help you. If you can find a different, creative way to remind B that you’re still there and interested, that would be ideal, but there’s only so much you can do.</p>

<p>Sorry, I know this must be terribly frustrating for you, but just hang tight. Prepare for the possible interview from B, but otherwise, I would say it’s safe to feel happy with either result, because A sounds great, too!</p>

3

<p>It is related to your career. What ever your heart says do it. Think which environment suits better for you and makes you to learn more.</p>

4

<p>It sounds like you are interviewing at relatively respectable companies, which is important.</p>

<p>If you are offered an internship before hearing back from another one, do NOT make a decision on the spot - it will be really tempting, but don’t do it. Politely inform them that you would like to think over the decision, and ask when they need you to respond. If they say 72 hours, consider asking for more time (assuming you won’t hear from company B within 72 hours). If they say yes, great! If they say no, you have a tough (but great) decision. Once you know how long you have to decide, speak with company B and let them know of the situation. Ideally, company A will give you a two week window, and company B will also meet you in the middle.</p>

<p>If you decide to accept the offer from company A, assuming you get one, then it is your duty to withdraw yourself from consideration at company B.</p>

<p>Once you receive an offer, you actually have a lot more power than you think you do. You already impressed the company enough that they want you; now, you need to decide if you want the company. They don’t want to force you into accepting an offer from them since that will not help them in the long run. They also will not rescind your offer because you asked for more time - that would be a big HR nightmare for them.</p>

<p>Be deliberate, be considerate, and be intelligent, and you’ll be fine.</p>

5

<p>Quick answer: yes; as long as you handle it diplomatically and thoughtfully. Also, you have to see this as a purely business decision. They have a business reason to offer/interview you. They don’t do it out of their kindness. You won’t hurt their feelings. If you do, that’s their problem. I was offered and accepted a full time position very early in the Spring. One week before I graduated, three weeks before I supposed to start, the company called to rescind their offer. I had called off all my job interviews and ceased to job search long before that. How was it fair to me? But, again, they have a business to run and if there is no longer a business need, we are no longer relevance to them. Do what maximize your advantage.</p>