Reneging on a Job Offer for Better Job

[Mr. Hobbes]

Hi,

 

Heading I'm into my second year and need some advice. Today, I was offered a paid internship from X for the summer--trouble is I'd already accepted a volunteer internship position from Y. I hadn't heard from the HR dept. of X post-follow up and had assumed that I was no longer under consideration, but poof, two months later a job materializes. And it's paid.

 

I feel terrible about the prospect of breaking a verbal contract with Y. They've been great throughout the hiring process and potentially may be interested in employing me down the road. This said, X is innovative, significantly closer to my home (I use public transit so cost difference is substantial), and also pays...

 

Does this letter sound okay?

 

Dear Ms. YYA and Ms. YYB:

 

Yesterday, I received an unexpected paid internship offer from X. I applied for the job quite awhile back this past spring, but hadn’t heard anything after I’d followed up with them and assumed I was no longer under consideration.

 

Unfortunately, the time constraints of this position in concert with my current internship position would bar me from volunteering with Y. After speaking with two mentors about the situation, I think it’s best if I pursue the opportunity with X as it’s paid, closer to home, and aligns directly with my fall studio coursework. I want to assure you that, while I think this course of action is best, I remain uncomfortable with the ethics of this decision, especially because of the time and effort you both have put into the recruitment process.

 

That being said, I want to genuinely thank you and apologize for the inconvenience that I have likely caused. Ideally, I would have kept you and the staff abreast of my summer situation had I been aware that the X opportunity was still on the table.

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel there’s anything I can do to help mitigate some of the trouble I may have caused.

 

Sincerely,

 

...

Edited June 4, 2014 by Mr. Hobbes

[Sigaba]

I understand your quandary. However, as written, your letter is an admission that you cannot be trusted to keep your word if more money is involved.

[themmases]

Any normal person would understand that you have to take a paid position over an unpaid one-- if they didn't, you wouldn't want to work for them anyway. I say this as someone who's vetted and trained unpaid assistants: if you're working in a remotely public-spirited field we feel bad about not paying you, we want to pay you in the future if things work out, and we understand that you could need to leave for a better opportunity that includes money. People realize that volunteers are not forever, and their actual obligations come up.

 

I don't think you should get into the details of why the new position is better for you personally, or write in a letter that you think your own decision is unethical. It's not, for one thing, and it's inappropriate for another. Employers don't need to see you rend your garments because you changed your mind about a job offer. And there is nothing dishonest about leaving an unpaid or volunteer opportunity in favor of paid work-- it's not at all like backing out of one paid position to take another.

 

Personally I would treat this like any other volunteer opportunity you might no longer have time for. Email them and say that you recently accepted a job in your field, and although you are excited to work with them you understand if your changed availability is a problem. (Only say this second part if you really would be willing to volunteer there if the time commitment were changed.) Apologize for any inconvenience, thank them for their time say it was nice to meet them etc. End of email.

[TakeruK]

I agree with themmases--there's no need to provide specific details of your decision or that you think your own actions are unethical. I would apologize for changing my mind but ultimately, they have to understand that most people need to prioritize paid commitments over volunteer ones. In my opinion, I would reduce your letter to:

 

Dear Ms. YYA and Ms. YYB:

 

Yesterday, I received an unexpected paid internship offer from X. I applied for the position awhile back this past spring, but hadn’t heard anything after I’d followed up with them and assumed I was no longer under consideration.

 

Unfortunately, the time constraints of this position in concert with my current internship position would bar me from volunteering with Y.

 

I want to genuinely thank you for the opportunity and apologize for the inconvenience that I have likely caused. I would have kept you and the staff abreast of my summer situation had I been aware that the X opportunity was still on the table.

 

Sincerely,

Edited June 4, 2014 by TakeruK

[Vene]

It's an unpaid internship, you owe them nothing. Take the paying position.

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I understand your quandary. However, as written, your letter is an admission that you cannot be trusted to keep your word if more money is involved.

Sometimes I don't know if you're serious. 

[Vene]

Sometimes I don't know if you're serious.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that if somebody values my work they'll pay me. Otherwise it has to be for a cause I believe in.

[Sigaba]

Sometimes I don't know if you're serious.

Do you have experience working in urban planning? Or have you participated in the recruitment and hiring of interns who are urban planners?