Are internships drying up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:DS got three internship offers in December '22 and January '23, accepted one offer and declined the other two. Today, the company that he accepted the offer informed him that due to budget constraints, it has to rescind the offer. The same thing also happened to one of my nephews that a different company that offered him the internship also rescinded the offer. It is now almost March so it is almost possible to find an internship. Anyone in the same boat as DS?

The lesson is he should have accepted all. Both my kids accepted two summer jobs. One will most likely get a pulled offer. That is the new world we live in

Terrible advice. Don’t teach your kid to accept
More than one offer on the chance that one of them will fall though. Because he’s knowingly leaving the company with an issue if it doesn’t fall though and he ends up picking the one he wants to stay with.

+1 This is how we wind up with unethical people in society. Parents like this right here.

(Instead of teaching integrity, keeping your commitments. It is actually sad to see it in real time.)

Why in the heck are people here defending companies that have absolutely no problem not keeping their commitment? I actually understand rescinding FT job offers because that is open-ended agreement and better a candidate focus on working for a company that expects to employ them...but internships? Again, the absolute cost of the internship program is fairly miniscule, and they could easily reduce the time (i.e., cost) by 1/3 yet it is still valuable for the student. Even if they tell students that if current economic conditions hold, there will not be any FT job offers at the end of the Summer...it is probably still better than leaving a kid high-and-dry this late in the school year.

Where is their integrity?

This site is read by patents, not CEO’s.

The poster was appalled to see how unethical another parent is (in advising their teen child).

Are you saying, we can lack integrity because some companies do?

Again, nothing to model for your child.

What if an applicant has two soft offers by email, with the indication that an offer letter would be coming from HR in the following days, but days have passed and nothing received yet from either? Presumably the applicant would have to pass reference and other screening as well. My view is neither of those is a secure offer and don’t have to disclose to the other employer at this stage, but wondering what others think. Especially in light of hearing about offers being pulled back etc. At what point can the prospective intern be comfortable that they actually have a viable offer?

In the current environment I would keep both of those in process until you have an actual offer letter. Companies can't drag their feet and expect you to not keep pursuing other options.

Yep I work in HR and until you have a signed offer letter, keep looking.

I agree but you should also know, that the offer can be rescinded at any time before the internship starts. Consider the industry the company and the current climate. It’s rare but does happen and most companies will do anything to preserve their good name with universities and future talent. But if the company or the industry implodes nothing is a sure bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

[Anonymous]

Re: connections. I worked with a sales VP who would go and beg my clients to hire her daughter during internship season. She'd slide the resume right in with our work materials and follow up. The daughter got considered but never interviewed and ended up working at our company for very low pay for 4 weeks. So I have some faith the process does work (external applications).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

My kids is submitting a ton of applications but I am also connecting him with anyone I know at a company he applies to. That's how hiring works. Would you not put in a good word for a friend applying for a job?

My son has made it to 2nd interview at a company because I happen to be friends with someone in HR at that company so she gave him a recommendation. That got him out of the initial pool of applicants and to a phone screen with HR. At that point, it's on him to do well in the interviews. Which he did and now is waiting for an interview with a hiring manager. Refusing to leverage contacts at a company you are interested in working at is just naive.

now who’s being naive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

PP, if the recommendation came from SVP level, and assuming the applicant is qualified/competitive, then what happens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

PP, if the recommendation came from SVP level, and assuming the applicant is qualified/competitive, then what happens?

I never had to personally face the situation. But I would assume that the candidate would get hired if he/she is qualified with a very strong recommendation from SVP. I suspect I would never even get to interview the candidate (I am a director at a legacy tech company), someone at the VP level would "fake interview" (read chit chat) with the candidate and offer him/her internship and let me know that he found a great candidate for my team I actually know two such interns - one was a daughter of EVP, interned in a different part of business and another was an African American kid who played with SVP's kid on his basketball team in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

PP, if the recommendation came from SVP level, and assuming the applicant is qualified/competitive, then what happens?

I never had to personally face the situation. But I would assume that the candidate would get hired if he/she is qualified with a very strong recommendation from SVP. I suspect I would never even get to interview the candidate (I am a director at a legacy tech company), someone at the VP level would "fake interview" (read chit chat) with the candidate and offer him/her internship and let me know that he found a great candidate for my team I actually know two such interns - one was a daughter of EVP, interned in a different part of business and another was an African American kid who played with SVP's kid on his basketball team in college.

I am an SVP. Yes, this is what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

PP, if the recommendation came from SVP level, and assuming the applicant is qualified/competitive, then what happens?

I never had to personally face the situation. But I would assume that the candidate would get hired if he/she is qualified with a very strong recommendation from SVP. I suspect I would never even get to interview the candidate (I am a director at a legacy tech company), someone at the VP level would "fake interview" (read chit chat) with the candidate and offer him/her internship and let me know that he found a great candidate for my team I actually know two such interns - one was a daughter of EVP, interned in a different part of business and another was an African American kid who played with SVP's kid on his basketball team in college.

I am an SVP. Yes, this is what happens.

To the SVP and HR executive posters: How is such an intern perceived by the group that has to work with them? If not favorably, can it be overcome by hard work, competence and value-add, or generally is the perception that, even with those attributes, the intern is not welcome?

The above is what would give me pause in having a student seek an endorsement or being seen as “pulling rank.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Nope, I interview interns all the time, getting a referral just guarantees and interview slot, unless the referral really came from an SVP. Just finished interviewing interns, all interns were sourced from the applications on the external website

PP, if the recommendation came from SVP level, and assuming the applicant is qualified/competitive, then what happens?

I never had to personally face the situation. But I would assume that the candidate would get hired if he/she is qualified with a very strong recommendation from SVP. I suspect I would never even get to interview the candidate (I am a director at a legacy tech company), someone at the VP level would "fake interview" (read chit chat) with the candidate and offer him/her internship and let me know that he found a great candidate for my team I actually know two such interns - one was a daughter of EVP, interned in a different part of business and another was an African American kid who played with SVP's kid on his basketball team in college.

I am an SVP. Yes, this is what happens.

To the SVP and HR executive posters: How is such an intern perceived by the group that has to work with them? If not favorably, can it be overcome by hard work, competence and value-add, or generally is the perception that, even with those attributes, the intern is not welcome?

The above is what would give me pause in having a student seek an endorsement or being seen as “pulling rank.”

No one cares. Interns do not have a ton of experience and skills anyway. If it's the CEO's kid and they are lazy and don't work, then they are frowned upon.

[Anonymous]

Back with an internship etiquette question. DC received an offer letter for one job and email offer for another but no letter yet. The place that hasn’t sent the letter had emailed DC last Tuesday that DC would be offered the job, and HR emailed Thursday to request a five minute chat to confirm application details are still accurate. DC responded quickly with willingness to meet, but HR has been radio silent since Thursday. DC has followed up twice with no response. Can’t tell from the portal whether the offer is being processed or not. Meanwhile the other offer explodes in two days. Should DC go above HR and contact the person she interviewed with to let them know about the exploding offer. DC would like to see the other offer and would take it if the compensation and other terms are on par with the first offer. (The risk would be looking pushy if the HR letter comes in before the first offer explodes, or them saying go ahead and take the first offer.)

[Anonymous]

Are people starting to see some interviewing and offers? I posted earlier and my DD got an offer last week and then of course immediately got two interview requests for dream internships. Ugh. Well at least she has one.

My DS had two final interviews in the last two weeks but hasn’t heard back. Just got an interview request from a company I had an in with so maybe that will come through. He’s worried though because alot of the dream internships he applied to look to be starting the interview process in April so he doesn’t want to commit to something only mildly related to his major when he could be working with a very appropriate org.

Stressful! But glad that things seem to be moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: connections. I worked with a sales VP who would go and beg my clients to hire her daughter during internship season. She'd slide the resume right in with our work materials and follow up. The daughter got considered but never interviewed and ended up working at our company for very low pay for 4 weeks. So I have some faith the process does work (external applications).

Wrong direction. If a client had told the sales guy to hire their kid, the kid would have been hired, or the client would have founds another sales guy at a competitor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back with an internship etiquette question. DC received an offer letter for one job and email offer for another but no letter yet. The place that hasn’t sent the letter had emailed DC last Tuesday that DC would be offered the job, and HR emailed Thursday to request a five minute chat to confirm application details are still accurate. DC responded quickly with willingness to meet, but HR has been radio silent since Thursday. DC has followed up twice with no response. Can’t tell from the portal whether the offer is being processed or not. Meanwhile the other offer explodes in two days. Should DC go above HR and contact the person she interviewed with to let them know about the exploding offer. DC would like to see the other offer and would take it if the compensation and other terms are on par with the first offer. (The risk would be looking pushy if the HR letter comes in before the first offer explodes, or them saying go ahead and take the first offer.)

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn't want to go through connections. I'm proud they picked completely different fields than ours and made it on their own. It can be done.

Thank you for posting this. I was starting to feel like a sucker for suggesting that my kid submit applications to internship postings. It’s good to know that not all internships are given based on nepotism and friend connections.

Further confirmation that it can be done without connections. Both kids found (paid) internships for this summer on their own. The one in tech had a tougher time, with over 100 applications submitted, but finally landed one. During the process advised them to keep at it, but not to worry if they didn't get an internship.

I find it unfortunate that college kids today have this additional stress to deal with. Back in the last millennium, few of us worried about internships over the summer, any old summer job was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think tanker here: we have fewer positions for interns than in years past, primarily because we now require that all internships are paid to avoid inequities. Worthwhile tradeoff in my view.

Are they FT or capped?

Our org is capping hours to avoid triggering benefits.