<p>I just accepted an internship offer this summer in Portland. The HR representative said that the internship timing is "highly negotiable" but she would like me to work for 12 weeks. I want to visit a friend this summer in Japan and was hoping to start my internship on the 4th of June, but since my school starts on the 20th of August, that only let's me work until August 18th, which would make it 11 weeks working at the company. Do you think it would be ok to ask for 11 weeks instead of 12? And how do you guys suggest I go about asking for this accommodation? I am interested to hear your recommendation :)</p>
<p>I don’t understand.
Your school is on the semester schedule?
School is done in mid May and starts in mid August (seems to be a bit early)?
Why don’t you visit between mid May to your schedule start date?
Why don’t you start internship earlier?</p>
<p>You should prioritize the internship over your trip to Japan.
HP wants you for 12 weeks.
Either work 12 weeks with an adjustment to your trip or give up the internship to someone who will work 12 weeks.
Asking to work 11 weeks will ding your reputation even before you start.</p>
<p>Long Prime: yup! my school ends may 5th
Batlio: Yeah… I might have to do that. So you suggest that I don’t even bring up the subject with HR? I was planning on asking whether I could do 11 weeks, but if not, I would be willing to do 12 weeks.</p>
<p>options:
- move your japan trip earlier (ideal)
- tell them you were planning to go to Japan and ask if it is ok to do 11 weeks, let them know if that is not acceptable that you will work 12 weeks
- work a couple weeks, then go to japan, then come back and work the rest
- offer to work 9 hour days instead of 8 hour days</p>
<p>… if they have one big intern group and you are all together a lot, then they are more likely to demand the 12 weeks in a row.</p>
<p>I don’t think it hurts to ask, as long as you make it clear you are willing to give up the japan trip if you have to, but you are wondering if you could work out the internship hours so you could still go.</p>
<p>Thanks soccerguy315! yeah I think I will try option 2. I don’t believe I will be starting with a huge intern group, I even think I will be earlier than everybody else (I worked for this company before and know that most schools in Portland are on a different schedule)</p>
<p>It really doesn’t hurt to ask. You are just an intern - your availability isn’t life or death to the company and these people aren’t the hard@$ses you think they are. Most of them are very nice and accommodating and like someone said … it really does not hurt to ask</p>
<p>Thanks lurker. It really puts my mind at ease, I will ask, but I am willing to cut my trip short to make it to 12 weeks :)</p>