Most respectful way to renege on an internship I already committed to?
I’m thinking of emailing the HR person who first called me to extend the offer, asking for a time to chat. Then, a few months later, I’d let the team know I won’t be joining the summer internship after all.
Honestly, not sure what to say. The email I’m imagining is basically something like this:
The reason I’m backing out is that I recently got an internship offer from another recognizable company with better pay, and more importantly, a team where I feel I’d learn more interesting stuff.
Do you think it’s fine to keep it vague like this and just say “personal reasons,” or should I give a bit more detail? I feel so bad and stressed for backing out after already committing. Btw, I’m an undergrad.
Thx for the suggestions!!!
I would never say "another recognizable company with better pay" just say you had another opportunity that you felt was better for your career. Don't overexplain, you don't owe them anything, just as they don't owe you employment, you are an at-will employee.
No such thing as a respectful way to renege. I'm sure it's a non issue, but you will never work at that company or with anyone who recruited you again.
Just don't put anything in writing that can be forwarded and don't put your updated company on linkedin. Call, just tell them you're not coming and leave it at that.
Also, LOL at the "I feel so bad..." Continuing to recruit after accepting an offer is a scumbag move. It may be the right answer for you right now, but if you actually felt bad about it, you woudln't have continued to recruit to begin with.
I can just imagine you down the line explaining to your fiancee over text "I feel so bad about leaving, but... she's so much hotter than you and is from a good family. You have to understand..."
Absolute bootlicker comment. And in the age of exploding offers, 6 rounds interviews, and ghosting applicants no less… op is smart to look out for himself and you are strangely salty.
The day you realise your loyalty is not reciprocated will be a sour one…
As someone above said, there is no respectful way to renege. If the second offer is wildly better than the first, it might be worth taking the risk, but if it's on the margin, suggest giving this decision a lot more thought. This industry is very small and your reputation will follow you.
The key thing here is to give them enough time to replace you. Don’t stress too much about burning bridges so long as you do that; this is an internship they weren’t counting on you to solve anything/materially help.
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