Familial Pressure to Go On Vacation During Internship

Hi everyone, hope you’re doing well. I’m a freshman at a semi target in Canada and have recently secured an internship in institutional equity sales at a boutique, very well respected firm and its a structured program.

My family (outside of my immediate) is in Europe and we generally go visit them once a year, but as I’m now a full time university student I can’t go during the school year, and I would really hate taking time off of my summer internship especially since it’s such a crazy achievement for my year.

One of my parents is a teacher so reading week is off the table as well. My family keeps telling me to take time off of my internship but this is probably a horrible idea.

They’re all waiting for me to book and I don’t know what to do. Can someone provide some guidance here? Thank you in advance.

22 Comments
 
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Man what is a "high-semi target"? Just say you go to a non-target

 

Push back man. Don’t jeopardize your internship for a vacation. I get that it sucks but you gotta prioritize. A the end of the day it’s a vacation not a wedding/funeral. But if you give 0 shits about this internship and the vacation is less than a week then you can probably figure it out. I would advise to just push back.

 
Most Helpful

Absolutely don't do it. 

Any intern that asks for time off during their internship, would most likely be told not to come back. Not from the vacation, but from asking the question. 

It's just not done. 

When you agree to an internship there is an understanding that you will be there the entire time. Apart from a family emergency, taking off for a vacation during your summer internship is just not done. I've seen interns fired for less than asking for this. I wouldn't even bring it up. 

I'd even take it a step further, if this is a structured internship at a reputable firm you could easily be branded for asking for time off during your internship. The industry is very small, you don't want this to be how ppl know you. 

 

I'll second what Telemachus said - don't do it. 

Tell your family you've committed to the internship, it's something that's really important to you and that you hope they support you. See you on FaceTime. 

Look - I'll tell you what it took me too long to realize - your are an equal to your parents and your family. Equal. You aren't at their beck and call. You have your own life, own priorities and own goals. You love them, respect them and want to spend as much time as possible with them as most of us do with our families - this doesn't change any of that and, if it does for them, that's their problem. It doesn't get easier so start setting boundaries now. 

 

Don't do it.  Not sure if there is a possibility for a return offer, but you're not getting one if you take a vacation.  Bottom line is that interns are not supposed to take vacations and it is a bad look.  Parents are frequently wrong and it's perfectly fine not to listen to them when it comes to career matters.  Remember as an analyst my parents, who were not in finance or any other demanding career, asking me why I worked so much and suggesting that I just tell my bosses that I needed sleep and would get my work done the next day.  Obviously terrible advice, but they didn't understand how the job worked, so I just told them it wouldn't be a good idea.  You should tell your parents the same.  You're not going to ruin a familial relationship by setting some boundaries around your career. 

 

Definitely not okay. It's not like you're attending a wedding, funeral etc - those are okay for interns to attend, but those are usually 1 day off. A week long to visit family is absolutely not a good excuse. Tell your family it's important to you and they should either go without you or go another time (what about Christmas, when both you and your teacher family member will have weeks off)

 

I think you should 100% ask about it and explain the situation. Worst case, they are hardos and say no. Best case they say sure go ahead. They are not going to pull your internship offer for asking. That is just ridiculous.

FWIW, this is also a FRESHMAN year internship. 99% sure you will not be working here full time or be there next summer. No one is going to remember (or care) that you took a week off for a vacation. 

 

I have literally never cared about what an intern has done. You will be adding zero value and they are doing you a favor by giving you something for your resume.

Let me pose the question differently, if you knew it was the last time to see a member of your family, would you be happy you were sitting in the office?

You gotta live and enjoy life, weigh your options and make the choice that's good for you.

 

Don't take time off. Let your family know it's not possible.

Interested in health tech, consulting, and entrepreneurship.
 

Don't forget, your family is asking you because they want to spend time with you.  They are coming at it from a place of love, and are genuinely the only people that will care about you in your life.  They probably miss having you around the house, even though you are an annoying teenager.

Take the internship, just be polite yet firm with them.  As your Dad is a teacher, he might understand a little, but not a lot, that that isn't the way things are done.

 

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