<p>I’ll take a slightly different view here. First, it depends on the industry. In some, even in the best of times only the very top, best fit interns will be offered a job. Chances are it’s just the economy, but in his shoes I’d ask.</p>
<p>The big thing is that he get a true read from his supervisors so he can think about direction. For our summer interns who won’t be getting offers but who we would hire when things turn around, we make it clear. </p>
<p>We have many very smart, hard working interns who we just don’t see as fits for our business. My DH was one of those years ago in my business and became very successful doing something else. </p>
<p>Probably the most important aspect of any internship is the feedback, but often you need to directly ask for a blunt assessment.</p>
<p>Internship article in yesterday’s NYT <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/business/09intern.html?8dpc[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/business/09intern.html?8dpc</a>. “With paying jobs so hard to get in this weak market, a lot of college graduates would gladly settle for a nonpaying internship. But even then, they are competing with laid-off employees with far more experience.
So growing numbers of new graduates — or, more often, their parents — are paying thousands of dollars to services that help them land internships.
Call these unpaid internships that you pay for.”
D did find an internship for the summer that was unpaid but at least it did not cost her $$$ to get it.</p>
<p>Definitely concur with the LOR, an honest chat with his boss about his performance, and for him to keep in touch over the coming year. He has a year to go before graduation – plenty of time for companies to change their hiring plans if business picks up.</p>
<p>You never know when someone he’s come in contact with will have an opportunity. Do not burn bridges!!!</p>
<p>This is scary for me to read through this topic…my daughter will be leaving soon for LA and the emphasis this last semester will be on the required internship.
Of course we are hoping that the internship will turn into a job too. It will not be easy to get her back to the east coast again in December if a job doesn’t pan out :(</p>
<p>I supervise internships at the LAC where I teach. It’s unusual in good times for an intern who hasn’t already graduated to walk away with a job offer; in this economy it would be an amazing coup.</p>
<p>The advice about letters of recommendation in spot-on. Worst case scenario, your S has a great addition to his resume and goes into senior year with experience and contacts that will make him more competitive next year.</p>
<p>^^ ugh…I am hoping that does not apply to my daughter’s field…anyone have any knowledge or personal experience in the television industry ?
I am okay with her coming back home and working either in or out of her field , but the move out there as been difficult to plan and the thought of doing it all over again in December is unpleasant to contemplate</p>