Potential Internship vs. Sure-Thing Summer Job

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>As the summer fast approaches, I still have not decided how I'm going to spend it, and I need your help!</p>

<p>I am going into my junior year, so while an internship is not essential, it would certainly be a nice credential to add to my resume. I currently have two interviews lined up for this week (one paid, one unpaid) in my field of choice, but I also have a summer job offer in my school's admissions office as a tour guide and office assistant.</p>

<p>I need to make money this summer, so I am going to call the unpaid internship recruiter tomorrow to cancel our interview/withdraw my application. This leaves me with a choice between a sure-thing summer job and the possibility of a paid internship. I need to tell the admissions office as soon as possible if I'm not going to take the job, but I am nervous about passing it up in favor of an internship I might not even receive. During my phone interview, the recruiter mentioned that there were a number of applicants to the internship, but I'm not sure how many of those applicants have moved on to the next round of the interview process with me (an in-person interview this week). Would it be appropriate to ask how many other people are still under consideration, to assist me in making my decision?</p>

<p>Advice, anyone? My head tells me to go with the job in admissions, but my heart is banking on this internship.</p>

<p>FWIW, I am a liberal arts major interested in a Human Resources internship. My major is not at all related to HR, hence why I'm interested in obtaining all the internship experience I can get.</p>

2

<p>I’d go with the sure-thing. If you do end up getting the potential internship by chance, you can always call the admissions office and withdraw your job from them. Granted, this will likely burn bridges, but if you do it in the most tactful, graceful way possible then you will maximize your opportunities. However If you are intending on working in the admissions office another time/during the semester, then I wouldn’t risk turning them down after initially accepting the offer, but otherwise - you have to do what is best for you as a student. Just my two cents</p>

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<p>Fa-la-la-lena, thanks for your advice, and you make a very good point. I already hold a position in the admissions office (albeit in another capacity with a different supervisor) and I would hate to burn any bridges in declining the job offer. Technically, I have not yet accepted the offer, but I know that the woman who would be my supervisor is already at work making a work schedule for the summer.</p>