Deferring internship
I’ve recently received an Sumer internship offer for a major bank. This offer was 3 months late in being made - apparently due to ‘an unprecedented number of applicants’.
Just over a months notice to start a summer internship is a joke. I’ve already got summer plans including holidays and other career opportunities lined up now.
HR update emails have been increasingly apologetic about the delay. I’ll be in education still next year, so do you reckon it’s reasonable to ask to defer the internship until next summer?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it is reasonable to ask HR about deferring the internship until next summer, especially since you will still be in education next year. However, keep in mind that banks typically view internships as feeders for full-time roles, and deferring might not always align with their recruitment timelines or needs.
If you decide to make the request, approach it professionally and respectfully. Highlight your enthusiasm for the opportunity and explain your current commitments. Be prepared for the possibility that they may not accommodate the deferral, as some banks might prefer to fill the position immediately. If they decline, you’ll need to weigh the importance of this internship against your current plans.
Sources: Current IBankers: What would you do if a summer candidate reneged another offer to sign with your firm?, Current IBankers: What would you do if a summer candidate reneged another offer to sign with your firm?, CS Interns - Resist the temptation to email a banker/staff to ask about your internship, Should I delay graduation by a semester for a summer internship at a large bank?, My Four Year Plan
Stop acting like a child and just take the internship. Find something better for next year.
I think it's extremely unlikely, and I've never seen a precedent of this.
HR's immediate problem is meeting the number requirement for this summer's cohort. Next year is just business as usual (and, while I have no idea who you are and which bank you recruited to, you probably weren't their strongest candidate if it took so long to have this confirmed - it's likely you were on a waiting list and someone else dropped out). HR have a mandate to fill this summer's cohort and right now, that's the only thing they'll focus on.
Ultimately, if you don't ask, you don't get, but at the same time don't make a threat (such as saying you'll decline altogether) if you aren't prepared to follow through.
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