<p>I posted this in internships/career/employment section but I have a meeting with Company A tomorrow so I need an answer quick. They asked to discuss my fall schedule and potential hours – stuff like that. To me, it sounds like they’re looking at me as a potential hire?</p>
<p>However, I’m more interested in Company B and C. Both are top firms and hold my interest a lot more. I have an interview/meeting with one later in the week and one next week.</p>
<p>How do I let know Company A that I am waiting on replies still, but politely and kindly without sounding like I am arrogant? I feel like I may come off with an attitude as “you need to wait for my answer because I am super qualified” even if I don’t think it.</p>
<p>Note: I also like Company B and C better because they “fit” me more. Company A is a PR-only firm whereas B and C are PR/Ad/Media. I focus more on creativity in ads, but I like the fact that they are more well-rounded in the area and A is strictly one focus. Could this be a valid reason?</p>
<p>You go to the meeting; you answer Company A’s questions about your schedule; then they may or may not make you an offer. If they do, tell them thank you, and you need a little time to get back to them. Ask what their time frame is for your response. If they ask you why you can’t commit right away, explain your thinking just like you did in your post. It makes sense and it shows you’re serious about finding the right job.</p>
<p>In this tough job market, I would keep A in play until you get an offer from B or C.</p>
<p>I see it a bit differently…this is a very tough job market. You applied to Company A (as well as B & C), so something about it spoke to you. I would take the bird in the hand (the firm who offers a position), even if it might not be exactly what you want. You run the risk of losing all 3 if you attempt to stall. Then again, if no firm offer shows up tomorrow, no harm, no foul. May the best firm win! :)</p>
<p>They may give you enough time, in which case, problem solved. If they don’t and you don’t yet know what’s going on with Companies B and C, then accept A. A bird in the hand and all that. If B or C come through and you still think you’d prefer B or C, then you should renege on Company A. You need to go to the company you think will provide you with the best background and experience for what you want to do.</p>
<p>And assuming you do it professionally, your name will not be mud in your industry. This sort of thing happens all the time.</p>
<p>You do not need to say anything tomorrow about B or C. They certainly should not be expecting you to make a decision tomorrow. If you get an offer from A, you might be able to use that as leverage with B and/or C, by letting them know you have an offer, but are thinking they might be a better fit. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.</p>
<p>I disagree with VeryHappy about accepting the offer then reneging … especially for an internship if the opportunity was presented through your school’s placement office. At my son’s college, a renege on an accepted offer would be a black mark on future prospects (reference-wise). It is totally okay to say you are weighing your options and need some time. In the real (post-grad) world you should know that if you renege on an accepted job that your prospects with that company have ended. </p>
<p>DH is a very senior HR VP and the few times he’s changed jobs I’ve been amazed at his ability to quickly give notice of a job offer to other prospects. Once it parlayed into a better offer from one of the other prospects and and another time a boost of salary to the original offer. You actually become a better prospect when you have an offer on the table. </p>
<p>As an aside, when our son took the “bird in the hand” offer last fall ('13 grad). DH told him to continue his job search, taking the repercussions of reneging in the equation. He opted not to.</p>
<p>Bottom line: if you accept and renege, fully weigh the consequences of that decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice! I’ll ask for more time tomorrow and hope for the best with everything! Eek. I am super nervous. This is my first time running into a situation like this!</p>
<p>However, aMacMom, how does your hubby tell other prospects of job offers without sounding like he deserves a job or deserves higher pay? I am always always afraid that I might come off with an attitude in these situations without meaning to!</p>
<p>Our S did ask for more time when he had one internship offer but was hoping to get additional offers. He told the first company before their deadline that he’d gladly accept the internship.</p>
<p>When he was weighing full-time job offers SR year, he again asked about the timeframes for the 3 job offers he got, weighed all of them, went on a few interviews to see whether any of the others would commit, and then chose the job that was most appealing of the 3 firm offers. </p>
<p>I think that backing out of an accepted internship is a VERY bad idea for the student, employer and the U. In this economy, there is a lot to be said for taking the bird in hand after getting a reasonable extension that you can share that date with the others who have not given a firm commitment.</p>
<p>aMacMom: I understand your disagreement. However, reneging on the first offer and acceptance is less draconian to the OP than sticking with his acceptance and heading down a career path for the next 40 years or so that isn’t exactly to his liking. </p>
<p>One of S2’s friends accepted an excellent offer in a renowned training program. The program provided rotations in all areas of his field – some of which he knew he was not particularly interested in. A week later, the job of his dreams materialized: He would be working exclusively in the area he had been interested in since high school. </p>
<p>He asked for my advice and I advised him to professionally and politely turn down the training program he had already accepted. Otherwise it would be very difficult, and perhaps take years, for him to focus in the area he was genuinely interested in.</p>
<p>Assuming you’re professional about it, most of the time the first employer will understand.</p>
<p>I’m also friends with a fellow who took a job and then, six weeks later, got another, better offer. He resigned from the first job but maintained his excellent reputation by resigning in a professional, regretful, thoughtful way.</p>
<p>I think she is not the decision maker. She was given the task of calling you back for another round and keeping you in play. I think she is trying to convey the firm’s interest without making a commitment. We actually do this too when we’re looking to hire someone. </p>
<p>It’s a dance. You each want to keep your options open in case something better comes along, but if it doesn’t, you want to have something.</p>
<p>Email her the paperwork. If I understand what you said, she hasn’t officially offered you the internship yet, nor have you accepted it. </p>
<p>I think it would also be appropriate to remind her in your cover note that you are also waiting to hear from two other internships. You might say something like, “I enjoyed meeting you blah blah blah. Here is the paperwork you requested, which My College requires for me to receive credit for the internship. As I mentioned when we last met, I am still waiting to hear about another position.” </p>
<p>Can’t hurt. It doesn’t change how wonderful you would be in this job.</p>
<p>I grilled one applicant hard toady as to why our company (job) would be a good fit for him. If he had told me that there were 2 other jobs he was more interested in, I would have cut the interview short.</p>
<p>My advice to D1 when she was interviewing, every company she was interviewing with was her #1 choice until they made an offer, then at that point she was the one with the option. Same dance as applying to colleges - every college is your #1 choice until the decision date, then between April - May “show me the love.”</p>
<p>I don’t think you should bring up the other internships you are hoping to consider again. You mentioned it once; they know. Don’t keep bringing up negative aspects of your application.</p>
<p>That said, I think it is fine to accept and then change your mind if something better comes along. Will some people be bitter for a bit? Sure, maybe. And there might be some repercussions. But ultimately, you have to decide what is best for YOU, and that includes weighing all the positives and negatives.</p>
<p>I would email the paper work. Don’t mention the other companies that you hope will offer you an internship. People do not want to hear they are the 2nd or 3rd choice. Also it doesn’t sound like you have an offer yet from this company so it’s entirely possible you will hear back from those other companies before this company decides whether to offer you an internship.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, I /believe/ I got the offer because the paperwork at our school is usually only needed when the student gets accepted. Basically the paperwork is sent to the company for someone there to sign to verify they are taking you in and then sent back to our internship coordinator so they can enroll me in the internship class.</p>
<p>@oldfort: Hope you don’t mind me asking since it’s kind of OT, but would the applicant telling you that make him even more desirable? Like would you offer up more (hours, pay, or anything) than his competitors, or would that depend on how qualified he is for the position? Just wanted to get a self-note for future job inquiries from someone who does hiring LOL.</p>
<p>I think I’d ask for written clarification from company A as to whether they are making a formal offer and what their timeframe is for finalizing everything, including paperwork, as well as if they have any flexibility in hours in consideration of course scheduling. It’s important to have the offer in writing to KNOW its solid and what terms and timeframe are being offered rather than assuming you have gotten an offer.</p>
<p>If you have any doubts or confusion, the internship counselor at your U may be able to help guide you.</p>
<p>I would only care to know when I become interested in hiring the applicant. It would turn me off if the applicant just volunteers the information. We would try to be competitive with the salary, but we wouldn’t want the pay to be the only factor that an applicant chooses us over another company.</p>