summer internship advice

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rattewisday

203 posts

Master Geek

#88533 17-Aug-2011 19:03

Hi guys,

I am looking for some advice on my current situation. I'm in my final year of a CompSci degree and have been applying for some summer internships at various companies (summer internships rather than grad programmes as I plan to return to uni next year for postgrad study).

Most of the companies I've applied to are still either taking applicants or doing first stage interviews. The problem is this - one of my lesser preferred companies I've applied for has already interviewed me and just offered me a job. They're wanting to fly me up to meet the team and are drawing up a contract in the next few days. What is the etiquitte in a situation like this?

Ideally I'd like to stall them for a couple of weeks so I can see what my chances are with the other companies, but obviously I don't want to turn down the offer and then end up with no job. Any ideas on how to approach a situation like this?

Cheers!

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#508183 17-Aug-2011 19:19

You could just tell them the truth, that you have other interviews and want to go through them all before making a final decision.

If they don't understand this , then maybe they wouldn't be great employers anyway.

The risk is that you lose all the jobs. If that is unacceptable you should take this one.

John2010

532 posts

Ultimate Geek

#508283 17-Aug-2011 22:43

I've hired a lot of people for many different jobs in various companies. If I offered anyone a job, especially an internship type one, and they told me they would like to wait to see what eventuated out of the other jobs they had applied for I would show them the door. No one is that special and that especially so if an inexperienced grad looking for a temporary job.

Maybe, as another has inferred, that means I am not a good employer. But I suspect not, just a realist who can smell when someone is not really keen and is looking mostly to their own good rather than the good of both themselves and their employer. Who wants to employ someone like that?

Privoxy

132 posts

Master Geek

#508349 18-Aug-2011 08:25

John2010: I've hired a lot of people?for many different jobs in various companies. If I offered anyone a job, especially an internship type one, and they told me they would like to wait to see what eventuated out of the other jobs they had applied for I would show them the door. No one is that special and that especially so if an inexperienced grad looking for a temporary job.

Maybe, as another has inferred, that means I am not a good employer.? But I suspect not, just a realist who?can smell when someone is not really keen and is looking mostly to their own good rather than the good of both themselves and their employer. Who wants to employ someone?like that?

I agree with this, when I hire someone its because I know (To the best of my knowledge) that they really want to work for this company, that its what their goal was and something they have worked hard to achieve.

If I got a response "oh yea, you know... just want to see if anything better comes along" I would throw them out the door before they got a chance to respond.

There is no shortage of I.T grads, and I know a bunch that are struggling to get their foot in the door for one reason or another.

I would be thankful they are willing to race to snap you up they must think you are a valuable asset already.