How to respond to a job (internship) offer. [Responded]

[tatteredpotato]

I've had a couple phone interviews with this company (call it Company A) for an internship for Summer 2011. Shortly after the phone interview today I got an email from the company requesting a "quick phone call" tomorrow. I figure there's a pretty good chance they're going to give me an offer and I'm curious as to what's the most "professional" way to respond.

I currently have an on-site interview with another company (say Company B) coming up in the next few weeks (although the date for that hasn't been nailed down yet), so I need to have some time until I give Company A a response.

I'm probably over-thinking it, but I don't want the delay in my response to come across as disinterest in the position. Would something like "How soon do you need to know my decision" suffice?

FWIW these are both tech companies (software development engineering intern positions).

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

What you need now is for your resume. Nothing more, nothibng less.

The place is not important. What is important is that when you do go, you make a good impression on that comapny and bust tail to accomplish tasks that they give you. And try to learn something. What you need to learn most in software is industry practices more than anything else. This is your waterfall or agile methodlogy or whatever blend it is that the comapny is using.

 

[guyver01]

Is it a paid or unpaid internship?

If unpaid.. who cares what company makes you an offer... say "Yes, i'll take it" .. to the first offer.

If paid... don't expect $26/hr for an internship...

$8-10 is about average.

 

[veri745]

Is it a paid or unpaid internship?

If unpaid.. who cares what company makes you an offer... say "Yes, i'll take it" .. to the first offer.

If paid... don't expect $26/hr for an internship...

$8-10 is about average.

That's bogus. My lowest paid internship during school was $22/hr. My best paid one was over $30, but that was in an expensive part of the country. However, I would not argue on price for an internship.

If you need time to make the decision because of another offer, tell them exactly that. It makes them aware that you are desirable and there are others interested, and most companies respond favorably to requests for extension on offers, especially if you tel them upfront.

 

[jiggahertz]

Yeah, I think your response is fine. If they're going to make you an offer they may be giving you a heads up over the phone and will send out an offer letter. It's pretty early in the year so it's reasonable to say that you're investigating other opportunities and can you let them know in X weeks.

 

[guyver01]

That's bogus. My lowest paid internship during school was $22/hr. My best paid one was over $30, but that was in an expensive part of the country.

What was the job, and was this high school or college intern?

I'd never pay a high school kid $20+ for an internship.

i'm assuming the OP is talking about a high school internship... because... well... a college student should know how to reply.

 

[veri745]

What was the job, and was this high school or college intern?

I'd never pay a high school kid $20+ for an internship.

i'm assuming the OP is talking about a high school internship... because... well... a college student should know how to reply.

I'm referring to a sophomore level college software internship, you're right. The OP did say "software engineering internship", so I'm assuming that's where he is in his search.

For any real software internship though, I would expect even a decent high school internship to pay $12/hr. Wal-mart will pay you $8-10/hr.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Is it a paid or unpaid internship?

If unpaid.. who cares what company makes you an offer... say "Yes, i'll take it" .. to the first offer.

If paid... don't expect $26/hr for an internship...

$8-10 is about average.

Money isn't the issue for me, both positions compensate well enough... it's which company will give me the best experience, which I'm not going to decide until I do the on site interview with company B.

Also, should I try to keep the names of the other companies on the DL? For example Company B stated they'd be willing to work the interview schedule to facilitate the timetable of any outstanding offers I may have. Should I be vague when saying I have offers or should I be specific? I figure they might ask anyways.

 

[mmntech]

Is it a paid or unpaid internship?

If unpaid.. who cares what company makes you an offer... say "Yes, i'll take it" .. to the first offer.

If paid... don't expect $26/hr for an internship...

$8-10 is about average.

$8-10 is optimistic. I've seen plenty that only compensate a small, set amount at the end. Usually around $500. Paid internships are rare. You're lucky if they cover your commuter costs.

Slightly off topic but I'm starting to think these internships are a huge scam. They get people to work for free for a few months, with no intention of hiring any of them. I got a high profile internship, got a good recommendation. Hasn't opened any doors for me.

 

[tatteredpotato]

$8-10 is optimistic. I've seen plenty that only compensate a small, set amount at the end. Usually around $500. Paid internships are rare. You're lucky if they cover your commuter costs.

Slightly off topic but I'm starting to think these internships are a huge scam. They get people to work for free for a few months, with no intention of hiring any of them. I got a high profile internship, got a good recommendation. Hasn't opened any doors for me.

That seems low, most engineering internships around here are around $15/hr.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Mine was $17.95/hr for a desktop support job. Learned next to nothing practical (aside from being able to "better" fix my friends' and family's PCs haha), but managed to put myself through my last semester of school, so I deem it a success.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Mine was $17.95/hr for a desktop support job. Learned next to nothing practical (aside from being able to "better" fix my friends' and family's PCs haha), but managed to put myself through my last semester of school, so I deem it a success.

First internship was working in the maintenance department of a steel mill... not a very valuable experience. My last internship was doing some embedded programming with FPGAs for $14 an hour, but I learned a ton there.

 

[silverpig]

"Thank you very much for the offer. I'm very interested and really excited about it. I would love to hear about the details so I can consider my options."

 

[LordMorpheus]

That's bogus. My lowest paid internship during school was $22/hr. My best paid one was over $30, but that was in an expensive part of the country. However, I would not argue on price for an internship.

If you need time to make the decision because of another offer, tell them exactly that. It makes them aware that you are desirable and there are others interested, and most companies respond favorably to requests for extension on offers, especially if you tel them upfront.

Yes, all of my internships paid quite well (usually with benefits like housing thrown in on top of all that).

I don't think companies are allowed to give "say yes now or lose it forever!" offers. If they give you an offer, express your gratitude and ask them when they need your reply.

 

[Leros]

Is it a paid or unpaid internship?

If unpaid.. who cares what company makes you an offer... say "Yes, i'll take it" .. to the first offer.

If paid... don't expect $26/hr for an internship...

$8-10 is about average.

You guys are getting ripped off. The lowest paid internship I had was $22 an hour. Last year I made well over $30.

I've gotten offers as low as $12, but I've rejected them. Don't settle for the first thing you get and know your value.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I don't think companies are allowed to give "say yes now or lose it forever!" offers. If they give you an offer, express your gratitude and ask them when they need your reply.

I suppose I am way over-thinking it... I just wanted to have some words in mind so I didn't come off rude on the phone.

 

[Leros]

I suppose I am way over-thinking it... I just wanted to have some words in mind so I didn't come off rude on the phone.

"I am interested in your offer, however I have an upcoming interview with another company that I would like to consider. Would it be ok if I got back to you with an answer in a three weeks?"

I've said stuff like this to several companies and never had a problem.

If you just say "yeah, you're one of my options, ill get back to you" then that sounds kind of rude. If you make it sound like they're your desired option but you just want to cover all of your bases and interview with the other company too, then it makes you look responsible and even more desirable to them.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Just got the call, offered me an internship and said I should have the offer letter before the end of the day. He originally said I could have until after thanksgiving to decide, but I told him that time frame might be a little tight so he opened it up until December 3rd and said he could reevaluate the deadline then if that's not quite enough time.

Now I have to see if I can get company B to work me through in time.

 

[deadlyapp]

Sounds like it should work out for you. Making them wait 3 weeks is a little long I'd say, but two weeks, especially around the thanksgiving break, seems appropriate.

 

[rcpratt]

Three weeks is completely reasonable, especially when you're 5+ months out from actually starting the job. I've gotten more when I was only working with 3 months.

 

[Gibson486]

who cares what they pay you on your internship?

The best internship I got paid $17/hr.

My last internship, I got paid around $24/hr.

Don't follow the money now, it is not the time to do it. Go to a place that will give you the most responsibility for your work.

Just an FYI, lots of big companies work off a rate table similar to this:

Experience:
1-2 year college, 40% of Engineer 1 pay
2 years of college, 60% of Engineer 1 pay
3-4 years of college, 75% of Engineer 1 pay.

 

[rcpratt]

I made about $16/hr at my first year of internship, $17/hr at the second (same place). $17/hr ended up being exactly about half what they pay me now that I'm full-time. I guess I thought that was pretty good at the time, didn't know engineering undergrads were getting mid-20s. But seriously, the money is irrelevant right now.

 

[mmntech]

That seems low, most engineering internships around here are around $15/hr.

I didn't get paid anything for interning at a major radio station. Thats typical in Canada. Only co-op placements pay. They didn't even compensate me for my communute, which was nearly $20 a day round trip. Fortunately it was only two days a week so I could keep working my regular job to make money.

I'm very bitter about the job situation right now. Can you tell? :\

 

[tatteredpotato]

I didn't get paid anything for interning at a major radio station. Thats typical in Canada. Only co-op placements pay. They didn't even compensate me for my communute, which was nearly $20 a day round trip. Fortunately it was only two days a week so I could keep working my regular job to make money.

I'm very bitter about the job situation right now. Can you tell? :\

Business or technical?

I have a buddy who is an animation student and got an internship in Burbank, CA with one of the big studios. Unpaid and rent was over $1000 a month.

The offer I got was nice though, they'll pay relocation and supply an apartment for the summer.

 

[Leros]

I didn't get paid anything for interning at a major radio station. Thats typical in Canada. Only co-op placements pay. They didn't even compensate me for my communute, which was nearly $20 a day round trip. Fortunately it was only two days a week so I could keep working my regular job to make money.

I'm very bitter about the job situation right now. Can you tell? :\

Now I feel better about the Canadian interns I worked with who got taxed double. Now I see why they weren't complaining.