Responding to co-op / internship job offers

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Smith Career Center (0128)
Corner of Washington Street & West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
phone 540-231-6241 fax 540-231-3293 www.career.vt.edu

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and graduate level, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
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Undergraduate Co-op / Internship Program

About internships

Responding to offers:
You have received an offer!? Congratulations. Stop. Think first:
	An employer who offers you a co-op or internship position should not ask you for an immediate response and you should not give one.

	Before you say, "yes," think about it; talk to family members, and talk with your Career Services co-op / internship advisor if you wish.

	Ideally an employer should give you at least two weeks to consider an offer. However, the employer may be under time pressure to hire a candidate, and/or the start date could be very soon, so the employer might need your answer in less time. At the very minimum, the employer should give you two days to consider the offer.

	Don't accept an offer until you are sure of your decision and until the employer has given you enough information on which to base your decision. Ask the employer any questions you need answered before you make a decision.

	If you are in a difficult or confusing situation that you are not sure how to handle, call us to arrange to talk with your Career Services co-op / internship advisor.

Understand the rules and ETHICAL issues about responding to an offer.
	Don't accept a job offer — even verbally — until you are certain you are committed.

	Don't back out after accepting — that's called reneging, and is unethical. Reneging on an offer will make you ineligible to register with the Co-op / Internship Program if you accept another employment offer.

	An employer should never pressure you to renege on another employer. If this happens to you, discuss this with your Career Services co-op / internship advisor.

	Once you have accepted a job offer, notify any other employers with whom you are in discussion about employment that you are no longer a candidate. Cancel any upcoming interviews by courteously explaining that you have accepted another job offer.

When you make the decision to accept a co-op or internship position, see for students enrolling or enrolled in the program.

Also see:
	Acknowledging a job offer
	Declining a job offer
	Requesting extension of deadline to accept/decline offer
	Accepting an offer and withdrawing from the job search

Return to job search skills.