Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Multiple Internship Offers

Getting multiple job offers is a good thing… a very good thing, given the current job market. You submit your resume a few times, you cross your fingers and you get an offer! But wait a minute, a few days later you get another offer and then another. Rather than panic or attend more interviews when you’ve already accepted somewhere else, it is best to respond to each offer in a timely and professional manner so that you don’t burn any bridges in an industry you are still new in.

A couple important points to consider:

1. Chances are if an employer liked you enough to give you an offer this time around, they will be open to interviewing you again. Following-up with a kind, professional email like one of the ones we have below (tailored, of course, to your specific situation) will reinforce the idea that you are a grade-A professional and someone they will want to work with down the road. A LinkedIn connection isn’t a bad idea either.
2. You are a hot commodity now. Some employers might be willing to give you a counter offer. If this is something you are interested in, then a follow-up is definitely worth writing.

Sample Email: To Turn Down an Offer

Dear (Name of Person Who Made the Offer)

Thank you for your time and offer — I really enjoyed the opportunity to
interview with you and the rest of the xyz team.

I wanted to let you know I recently accepted another position. While I
am extremely passionate about the work you are doing, the offer I
accepted was at another top choice of mine.  I wanted to tell you as
soon as possible so that this does not interfere with your candidate
search.

I hold your company in high regard, have connected with you on LinkedIn,
and hope we can stay in touch!  Thanks again for your time and for
considering me as a candidate.

Sincerely,

Name

Sample Email: Inquiring About a Counter Offer

Dear (Name of Person Who Made the Offer)

Thank you for your offer! I am thrilled to have been selected as a
potential employee. I wanted to let you know I recently received another
offer that I am also strongly considering. The positions are a bit
different and I wanted to see if you’d be available to speak briefly on
the phone with me today or tomorrow to discuss a few remaining questions
I have about this role?

Thanks again for your time and interest.

Sincerely,

Name

Sample Email: Turning Down an Offer Alternate

Dear (Name of Person Who Made the Offer)

Thank you for your offer! I appreciate you taking the time to teach me
more about the company. I am a strong believer in your mission to… and
hope to become directly involved with your work at some point.
Unfortunately at this time I have accepted another offer that I think is
a better fit for the specific interests I am looking to develop this
summer. I hope this doesn’t interfere with your candidate search.

If you are free at any point to get coffee or lunch I would love to
continue talking and hopefully explore the option of reapplying later
on. Thank you again for your time and interest.

Sincerely,

Name