Most respectful way to reneg an internship offer?
Intern offer for Summer Analyst 2026. How do I tell them?
I'm thinking to email the person who first called me to extend the offer, emailing to ask for a time to chat over the phone. Then tell him I won't be joining the internship and instead will be dropping it.
Don't really know what to say though. The only way I imagine that phone call going is "Hey, so I won't be joining the internship, but thanks for taking the chance and extending the offer and all". "Why?". "Umm, personal reasons".
I'm not taking another internship offer or anything, the truthful reason is simply a loss in the family leading to no ambition. I prefer to pass on saying that though, so hopefully "personal reasons" is enough to not warrant a further question.
Any advice on doing this respectfully?
Do not call them. Email HR and say an unexpected emergency or whatever. Keep it vague, don't overexplain, and be concise.
Will do this, thanks.
I’m going to interpret your last paragraph as a subtle ask for help, and tell you to reconsider your decision to renege. You absolutely need to take some time to grieve and process what has happened, but “loss of ambition” sounds like a deeper, depression-like symptom. It’s completely normal to feel profound sadness in this situation, but as time will still continue on, so must life.
This guy is right.. @OP. It’s just a few months, just keep options open, especially after all the work to secure them in the first place… might make you furious in a year or two if you didn’t try…
Having said this, no shame in not taking a full time offer and doing something else altogether…
Your whole plan of calling and reneging is bad and I would take it as weird — if you call, you make it more personal and it’s implicit that you give a good reason. The way to go would be via email. Probably fair to brief the person who invited you.
Get better soon. But also get your shit together / “house in order”.
Don’t renege.
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