How to Turn Down an Internship

Most people would turn down an internship for one of two reasons: they’re anticipating the decision of another company, or they learned in the interview that the position is not what they are looking for at this time. Making this decision can be intimidating because of the flattery associated with the offering and the pressure of not burning any bridges. The decision is your’s to make, but here’s what to do after.

The most important piece of advice when turning down an internship is to be professional. Follow up with the company as soon as possible, as their time is valuable and they need the opportunity to offer the position to a second candidate.

When breaking the news, there is no need to give any details. All that needs to be done is thanking them for their offer and you regret that you aren’t able to accept their offer at this time, though you hope to have the chance to work with them at some point in the future.

A nice gesture is to follow up with a thank you letter asking to stay in touch. This will create a lasting impression and reflects your confidence and professionalism present in your internship search. Also, by doing this, when next semester comes around, you may be on the top of their minds.

Good luck making your decision, and always trust your gut!