How to properly turn down a job?

[chickadee]

Ok. So I'm supposed to start my dream internship this upcoming Monday. I accepted it over a month ago. It's unpaid, but I thought I'd have the support from my mom to get me thru the semester. Unfortunately, circumstances have changed, and I can't feasibly do the internship anymore. I'd love the opportunity to get it again at some point in time in the future so I've been trying to figure out what might be the best way to tell them that despite it being last minute, I have to decline the internship for this upcoming semester?

I've never had to do anything like this before. In fact my last job I stuck out about 6 extra months only cause I was afraid to tell them I wanted to quit.

Any advice on how to go about doing it would be much appreciated

 

[chrisms]

A little more details might help, but the best advice I can give is do it as personally as you can while also sending a formal letter explaining the circumstances. The letter may be kept on file if you decide to apply again, which will help your cause so they can see the reasons behind your declining the internship.

If you have had no other contact with them besides letters/emails/applications, then forget the personal part. But usually if I quit a job I let my supervisor know face to face and also do the formal stuff... this is why its hard to give advice without more details.

 

[Zolty]

I would use the phone

 

[chickadee]

I don't know the people there that well. It's in the internal communications dept. of a television station in NYC. I met the people there 3 times - once for the interview, and i went there on a two day shadowing during the beginning of December. Other then that everything took place through e-mails. I have not even been in contact with them since that shadowing in December. I really like the environment and the people there which makes it a bit harder. I'm very bad when it comes to getting across what I want to say in person. It's also about an hour commute, so going there to do it in person would be kinda hard. It's also a very locked down building so even if I did go, I probably couldn't get in to see the people I needed to see, so I'd probably have to just inform them via e-mail.

I'm not really sure what other kind of information you think would be helpful?

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: chickadee
Ok. So I'm supposed to start my dream internship this upcoming Monday. I accepted it over a month ago. It's unpaid, but I thought I'd have the support from my mom to get me thru the semester. Unfortunately, circumstances have changed, and I can't feasibly do the internship anymore. I'd love the opportunity to get it again at some point in time in the future so I've been trying to figure out what might be the best way to tell them that despite it being last minute, I have to decline the internship for this upcoming semester?

I've never had to do anything like this before. In fact my last job I stuck out about 6 extra months only cause I was afraid to tell them I wanted to quit.

Any advice on how to go about doing it would be much appreciated

I would say exactly what you wrote here. Life happens. If the supervisor is understanding, there won't be a problem. Telling the truth and being upfront about it may help you keep the door open if you have the opportunity to take the internship later.

 

[BarneyFife]

How can a tv station be so cheap and not pay you minimum wage at least?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
How can a tv station be so cheap and not pay you minimum wage at least?

supply and demand

 

[SoLiDus88]

My friend interned at major broadcasting networks in NYC and never got paid. He did get comp for travel(free car service from manhattan to queens). I think these places force you to do it for school credit or something.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: DAGTA

I would say exactly what you wrote here. Life happens. If the supervisor is understanding, there won't be a problem. Telling the truth and being upfront about it may help you keep the door open if you have the opportunity to take the internship later.

Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[BoomerD]

Things have changed, you filthy slob
I will not take your stinkin job.
I will not, can not no siree
you will not take advantage of me..


See...Dr. Suess can be part of a good edumakashun...