How to Accept an Internship Offer (According to 7 Experts)

A successful internship can be the key to a thriving and fulfilling career. However, there are several things you need to consider before accepting any offers.

That’s why we asked experts to provide their insights on how to accept an internship offer. Let’s find out:

Jillian Low

jillian low

Director of University Partnerships, Virtual Internships

Ensure that you have reviewed the opportunity and are ready to accept

If you are wondering how to accept an internship offer, you have already done the hard work, so congratulations! Prior to accepting, ensure that you have reviewed the opportunity and are ready to accept considering:

Do you have applications out with other internships that you are waiting to hear back from?

If this isn’t your first choice, and you run the risk of accepting and backing out, try to ask for a little more time before you commit. Most answers should be given within 3 business days, 5 at the latest, but you can email them stating your enthusiasm but asking for a few days to confirm.

Are you able to commit to the time and effort required from this opportunity? Will this internship get you the skills, experience, and opportunities you need for your future career management?

Most likely, if you are considering a response, you have answered a resounding yes to the last two questions and can move onto the next part, formally accepting!

In your response, ensure that you:

  • Show your enthusiasm and excitement for the opportunity.

While there is a balance between enthusiastic and over-enthusiastic, your acceptance letter doesn’t have to be overly formal and should show your genuine happiness at receiving the offer.

  • Ensure that you are clear about what you are accepting.

There should be a sentence towards the start of your email stating: “I am happy to accept the position of XXX Intern at XYZ Company beginning on XXX date with starting pay of $$$ (or provision of credit or stipend).

HINT: If you cannot fully complete the blanks on the above sentence, you should hold off accepting until you can confirm the start date and pay.

End the message asking for the next steps and how you can support in between now and your confirmed start date. This point is often forgotten when accepting but shows initiative and allows you to get clarity on what to do next. Once you have officially confirmed, make sure you don’t go silent until the start date, and check-in at least one week prior to the start of your internship to ask how you can prepare for your first day.

Sophie Summers

sophie-summers

HR Manager, Proprivacy

Time limit

The first thing is the reasonable time limit. I recommend you not to take more than ten days to respond. If they would need to hire early, then they might decline you from the finalized list. So, respond within ten days.

Do not accept to decline afterward

If you are only accepting the offer to decline it before joining, then it is a big question mark on your professionalism. Maybe a company would add your name and details in the blacklist to not consider you for future opportunities.

Things to include in the acceptance letter

The next thing is “how to respond.” Make a checklist of these five things:

  • position title
  • start date
  • salary
  • enthusiasm
  • acknowledge the terms agreed upon

Including the aforementioned things would show your professional attitude towards an organization and also clear all the ambiguities.

Additionally, as a courtesy, you can remind them that you are open to fill out any required information and to land documents. So, if any document has been missed or they want it on the first day of the internship, then you could arrange it timely.

Sid Soil

sid soil

Founder & CEO of DOCUdavit Solutions

Ask important questions before accepting an offer

For young professionals and college students looking to jumpstart their careers, internships are a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and network with people working in an industry that you’re presumably interested in. They also present a catch-22.

With many employers offering unpaid internships, young, enthusiastic kids who want to make a name for themselves get taken advantage of.

Intern candidates often don’t have much power in negotiations, but it’s important for them to leverage what they have. Here are a few key questions to ask before accepting an offer:

  • “What will my day-to-day responsibilities look like?”
  • “Who will I report to? Have they ever had an intern before? If so, would it be possible for me to speak with the previous intern?”
  • “Have you hired previous interns for full-time positions? If so, what might that timeline look like?”
  • “In your opinion, what are the most important characteristics that enable interns and employees to succeed at your company?”

By asking questions like these, the intern can flip the script and regain a bit of control in negotiations. If the interviewer doesn’t offer satisfactory answers, it might be a sign that the internship is not a good match.

Asking these types of questions as an interviewee exudes confidence and self-respect — qualities that any prospective employer wants in a new team member.

If the intern candidate does his/her due diligence and analyzes the internship opportunity like the employer analyzes the intern’s resume, the intern candidate should be able to make an informed decision whether to accept an offer or not.

James Lloyd-Townshend

james lloyd-townshend

CEO, Tenth Revolution Group

Give it some serious thought before accepting an internship offer

The single most important thing to do before accepting an internship offer is to give it some serious thought– there’s a very good chance that this will be your next employer.

Try and make a list of what you want from experience, so you can make an informed decision once the offer comes in. The likelihood is that the person who interviews you will be the person you work for, so try and figure out during the interview if this is someone you feel comfortable working with, and if the environment feels right.

The worst thing you can do is just accept the first offer that comes.

If you accept and then backtrack on that decision, you’ll be in a worse position than a polite rejection. We’re not naïve enough as employers to think that you’ve only applied to one organization at a time, so it’s understandable for you to take some time to weigh up your options.

However, once you give the go-ahead, then various departments will be readying themselves ahead of your arrival. Changing your mind causes disruption. It wastes time and, consequently, money. That may not matter to you now, but the working world can be smaller than you think. If you’re applying for an internship in the sector you want to work in the future, there’s a strong chance you’ll encounter the same people further down the line.

I once had someone renege on an internship around three weeks after accepting an initial offer. Several years later, that same name applied for a permanent position on one of my teams at a different company. Their resume looked great, and they interviewed well, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they would either do the same or wouldn’t hesitate to leave us in the lurch again.

Having a better offer on the table, or something more suited to your skillset of future ambitions, is fine. But wasting people’s time and energy now can put you in a tricky spot at a much more important stage of your career. So, before accepting an internship offer, make sure that you’re 100% certain that this is the route you wish to go down.

Robert Moses

Robert Moses

Founder, The Corporate Con/noisseur

Reply in a timely manner and respond professionally

Internships are, generally, the best way to jumpstart your career and enter into the professional workforce. Internships allow students to gain relevant, real-world experience while simultaneously building and creating networks within their chosen industry.

In addition, nearly 65% of all interns are accepted into full-time positions at the end of their internship, making the time spent on the internship all the more valuable.

With so much on the line, it is important to not only create a great first impression but also to continue providing value and professionalism throughout the length of the internship.

When it comes to accepting an internship offer, you should do so in a professional, mature manner. This means that you should provide a response, accepting the offer, within 24-hours of receiving the email.

Within the body of the email, you will want to thank both the hiring manager and the human resources recruiter for their time and for the opportunity. The email should be roughly a paragraph in length, as you will want to avoid including any unnecessary information and don’t want to ramble on.

After providing your appreciation for their time and the opportunity, you may ask a few relevant questions.

These may include:

  • start date of the internship
  • the length of the internship
  • confirmation of where the internship will be located.

Typically, these questions may be answered in the initial offer letter, but if not, you can go ahead and ask those questions.

So long as you reply in a timely manner and respond professionally and maturely, you should be okay. Continue to act in a professional manner throughout the length of your internship and remember that while some internship work may seem boring or unnecessary, it is an important first step in your career and one that you will likely look fondly upon.

Dr. Luz Claudio

Luz Claudio

Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

A good acceptance letter from an intern should be informative and appreciative

Informative, because some internship programs may accept a number of interns at the same time. Make sure to include a summary of your skills in your letter. State very clearly in bulleted form what skills you will bring to the internship and how this makes you a great candidate.

If you have a good idea of the project or topic of the internship project that you’d like to do, this will also demonstrate that you have done your homework regarding the projects that will be meaningful for the organization that is offering you the internship.

Finally, the acceptance letter should be appreciative. Don’t sound like you had taken it for granted that you would be accepted to the internship. Make sure to state that you appreciate the opportunity and that you are committed to doing a great job.

Maciej Duszynski

maciej duszynski

Resume Expert | Career Advice Writer, ResumeLab

When you land an internship and receive your first job offer from an employer, it feels great. After all, you hustled your way into it, and you have all the right to slap an ‘S’ on your chest. That being said, if you fail to craft a robust acceptance letter, you might come off unprofessional or lacking motivation to join the company.

The good news is, you can flip things around and be in charge of your internship success right from the get-go. To accept an internship offer, you need to pen a strong acceptance letter includes the following core sections:

  • An expression of gratitude for the internship offer.
  • Verbiage that says you accept the company’s offer.
  • A rapid-fire recap of the agreed-upon salary and benefits as you understand them.
  • The date you’ll start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Consider Before Accepting an Internship Offer?

Before accepting an internship offer, you should consider several factors to ensure that the opportunity is the right fit for you. Here are some things you should think about:

Your goals: Think about your long-term career goals and how the internship aligns with those goals. Will the experience help you build the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your goals?

The company culture: Do some research on the company’s culture and values to determine if it’s a good fit for you. Consider factors such as work-life balance, team dynamics, and development opportunities.

The work itself: Make sure you clearly understand the work you’ll be doing during the internship. Does it match your interests and skills? Will it challenge you and help you grow?

The location: If the internship is in another city or state, consider whether you’re willing and able to relocate for the duration of the internship.

The compensation: Consider what compensation is offered for the internship and if it’s enough to cover your expenses during the internship.

Considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about accepting the internship offer.

What Should I Do if I Encounter Challenges During My Internship?

It’s normal to encounter challenges during an internship, and you must handle them positively and professionally. Here are some tips for dealing with challenges during your internship:

Communicate with your supervisor: If you’re struggling with a task or project, talk to your supervisor for advice and feedback. Your supervisor can give you valuable tips and help you overcome your challenges.

Be proactive: If you notice that you need to get more work or are under-challenged, take the initiative and ask for additional tasks or suggest new projects. This demonstrates your enthusiasm and commitment to your position.

Seek feedback: Ask your supervisor and colleagues about your work and how you can improve. This will help you identify areas where you can grow and show that you’re willing to learn and improve.

Stay positive: It’s important to keep a positive attitude and not lose sight of your goals, even when facing challenges. This will help you overcome obstacles and make a good impression on your colleagues and superiors.

Take advantage of resources: Use all available resources, such as training programs or mentorships, to overcome challenges and improve your skills.

Can I Negotiate My Internship Offer?

While it’s less common to negotiate an internship offer than a full-time position offer, in some cases, it’s possible. Here are some factors to consider when thinking about negotiating your internship offer:

Company policies: Some companies have strict policies that don’t allow negotiating internship offers. Check with your employer to see if negotiation is possible.

Your level of experience: If you already have work experience or advanced skills, you may be able to negotiate a higher salary or additional benefits.

The market: Consider the market rate for internships in your field to determine if the offer is competitive.

Your goals: Think about your long-term career goals and whether you can achieve them if you accept the offer as is.

If you decide to negotiate your internship offer, be prepared to make a compelling case for why you deserve higher compensation or other benefits.

Proceed professionally and respectfully, and be ready to compromise to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

How Can I Use My Internship Experience to Enhance My Resume and Job Search?

An internship is valuable to your resume and can help you stand out to potential employers. Here are some tips on how to use your internship experience to enhance your resume and job search:

Highlight your accomplishments: Include specific examples of projects and achievements you made during your internship on your resume. This will show potential employers your skills and value.

Use specific language: Describe your tasks and accomplishments during your internship using verbs and concrete phrases. This shows that you’re detail-oriented and results-driven.

Tailor your resume: Tailor your resume to each job you apply for to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to that position.

Ask for references: Ask your supervisor and fellow interns for references you can use in your job search. This will show potential employers your professionalism and work ethic.

Stay in touch: Stay in touch with your internship supervisor and colleagues and maintain positive relationships. They may be able to give you leads on new jobs or serve as references in the future.

Using your internship experience to enhance your resume and job search, you can demonstrate your skills and value to potential employers and increase your chances of landing a job after graduation.

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