Multiple Internship Offers: 5 Factors to Help You Choose
Congratulations! You’ve been offered an internship…. or two, or three. How can you possibly decide which offer is the best? With so many factors to consider it’s easy to get lost in this process.
Consider the following factors to choose the right internship for you!
Responsibilities
How much responsibility is this internship asking of you?
Think about where you are in your life right now and realistically how much time and effort you have to give to a job without burning yourself out. Maybe one of the internships will require working overtime or unpredictable hours. Or maybe another one requires you to spearhead large, time-consuming projects.
If you are not in a position to undertake a large amount of responsibility, try to veer away from these types of internships.
On the other hand, if you feel like you are ready to dive into the deep end and are excited about gaining more responsibility, focus on the internship offers that allow you to do that.
It is really up to you to take a step back and gauge how much responsibility you can and want to take on successfully. Once you know that, it is easy to cut some internships out of the running.
Location
Location is a factor that many people forget to consider when accepting an internship offer. A longer commute to work not only means more time spent to get there and get back home, but it also means spending money on gas more frequently.
But sometimes a further location is worth the sacrifice. Maybe you love working in the city. The food, the culture, the environment, etc. - these factors may make commuting further worth it.
Whether the commute is long or short, it’s really up to you to decide if it's worth your time and effort.
Salary
While it’s nice to believe that none of us are influenced by money, it simply isn't true. A stable income means you have money to spend on rent, food, gas, or other living expenses.
Take a look at your finances and decide whether or not a paid internship is something you are looking for. If you are looking to make the most money possible, this factor can help you narrow down your offer pool.
However, remember that money is not the only factor to consider. Just because an internship pays the most money, does not mean you will enjoy it.
Your Goals
It is important to consider whether an internship is going to help be a launching pad for your future career goals.
Look at each internship offer and think about whether or not it is a position in which your personal and professional goals can be accomplished. If you wish to be promoted at some point and gain more leadership responsibilities, do you see yourself being able to do this in the said internship? Will this internship offer you experiences that will help you get bigger and better opportunities in the future? Will the internship connect you with the kind of people you want to connect with?
No matter what your personal and professional goals may be, think about what accepting each of your offers does for them. Some internships may sound interesting but won't do anything for your goals.
Organizational Culture
This is often overlooked when choosing an internship. We cannot stress the importance of considering the culture of the company offering you a position! When the culture at your workplace aligns with you, you not only feel motivated to do better work, but you are also more satisfied.
Maybe you are looking for a more relaxed and playful work culture, or maybe you need a more structured, purpose-driven work culture. Maybe you would like your supervisor's strong involvement in your day, or maybe you prefer being guided but ultimately entrusted to do it by yourself. Whatever it may be, don’t be afraid to do your research and ask around. Get a better idea of what the culture is like and whether that sounds like a place you'd like to commit to.
Overall, choosing one internship out of a pool of many is never gonna be black and white. Each internship has its benefits and drawbacks, but by ranking each job offer on the 5 factors listed above, you will surely get a great idea of which one is the best fit for you. Good luck!