Ask HN: My internship is asking me to not apply elsewhere, how do I say no?
Right now I have a fun internship with a small startup that works on a contract-by-contract basis. It pays really well ($22/hr + bonuses) and I have great relations with my boss & manager.
The problem is that the job is not enough to go full time on, there are often a couple off-months between contracts and we can only afford 20hr work weeks. I've started applying elsewhere in the city in hopes of getting an internship that can transition to a full time job outside of college (i'm in my last year).
My boss just emailed me today that they may have a contract secured by the end of Q1, and asked me if I could not apply anywhere else and would value my commitment to the summer. How do I tell him I am applying elsewhere without burning a bridge?
Thanks for any help guys
39 comments
[ 14.0 ms ] story [ 2212 ms ] threadIf that "burns a bridge" then they're not very reasonable. They might not be happy about it, but that's a separate issue.
You don't have to say you're applying elsewhere. Him asking you not to apply elsewhere, is not the same as him demanding you to tell him if you are doing so.
Business deals fall through all the time, I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. A contract is not a contract until it's signed. Even if they sign it, there's no guarantee that they will keep you on.
A minor issue, but something still to note: Your boss said the contract "may" be secured, not that it "will" be secured.
Boss said he would "value your commitment" for the summer span. By replying and saying anything in the affirmative, will the company consider this an informal agreement in lieu of the (upcoming) written contract?
tldr: if you reply yes, will they take it as a verbal contract?
I wouldn't say anything yes or no, perhaps something along the lines of "when a contract is ready to be presented to me in writing, I'd be happy to review it." And nothing else.
Dont' tell them lies unless you have to. Just say thanks for counting with me or something similar; but _keep_ looking just because, shit might happen and you'll need to put food on the table anyway.
It seems you don't have any hard stake in the startup, you have a soft stake in the work relationship there - but I would suggest that if that relationship doesn't stretch to accommodate the risks of both sides than it really wasn't that much of a relationship to start with.
You can be as kind as possible and say you're not looking specifically to leave, but that you feel you have to keep your options as open as possible too, and I think that is perfectly fair on your part.
Just respond saying something like: "Thank you for the heads up. I look forward to it."
Nobody looks out for you in this life except you! (within reason...). An employer has to look out for the company first.
In the US, uh of course they can.
Is it legal? Most people don't know. Will you sue over it? Unlikely as it's probably not worth the hassle.
People can do/say pretty much anything and the vast majority of the time the consequences are minimal or nonexistent.
Based on what exactly? I'm not familiar with any specific law prohibiting it.
I'd ignore request.
If repeatedly pushed for an affirmative answer - I'd be frank and polite - stating that I am happy with your company however would like to keep my options open, just like all of us
"Hey! We're giving you a bad employment deal, so don't talk to anyone else, so you don't figure it iut"
What if you want to explore a different area of technology? It would be very unreasonable to not talk to other companies and limit yourself to the same tech.
Why are you limiting yourself to one city?
My boss has expressed that if funding was available, I would be salaried and offered a full time position. The issue is that the company may never get that much funding, it's all dependent on how successful they are at selling the product.
In writing?
"The issue is that the company may never get that much funding"
Which means that you MAY be out of a job, and you didnt apply elsewhere. You have savings? It sounds like they know that you MAY be out of a job, and are asking you to not have other options. You MAY not like that.
"it's all dependent on how successful they are at selling the product"
Something like 9/10 startups fail...
Additionally, remember that random people on the internet are not lawyers. I have only taken 1 semester of law in college, and even I hear some ridiculous things people think are true. If you cant afford a lawyer, then you cant afford to be out of a job.
No one is looking out for you except YOU. PERIOD.
Don't forget this rule above. If your boss decides that they don't want/need to hire you at the end anyway, you are screwed.
Tell your boss "I look forward to working with you if it happens" and then keep applying wherever you need to apply. Your boss may mean well but at the end of the day, he has to report to someone and he has to look out for himself/herself.
Never ever put your career in anyone else's hands except yours.
BTW, if you're dealing with "contracts" (implying a consultant/independent contractor relationship), then he's not your boss, he's your client. That's a big difference.
The main thing here is that he's asking you to commit to something that he's not willing to commit to himself. To me, a measured, non-commital response would be in order. Keep it polite and let him know that you'd be happy to discuss a contract for the summer once he's able to commit to one.
No point in aggravating the client but this is a business deal (selling your time and expertise). Treat it as such.
Apply elsewhere. Sounds like a fishy environment to work in to me.
Which, of course, is completely unreasonable. Even if you have a written piece of paper with signatures on it, if they decide they don't need you anymore or can get another intern for less, they will effectively tear that piece of paper up and send you your way.
Moral: as others have already said, keep applying and let the cards fall as they might. Unless they have a full-time offer in hand for you today, you have no obligation to them. And I can guaran-damn-tee you that they feel absolutely no obligation to you. I mean, read your 2nd-to-last sentence: do you sense any commitment or obligation on the part of your employer? No, the commitment is completely one-sided.
And BTW if you are a developer in the US, $22hr is easily 1/2 what a real job would pay. Companies tend to not give a raise to market rate if they get you "cheap" initially. Absolutely do shop around and find your market value. I think you might see why they'd love to keep you on after you graduate.
Just curious, what law does this break?
Honestly, there isn't enough info in your post for anyone here to give a proper answer. eg the city you are in makes a difference. No worries, some general things to think about in your last year of college:
1. Don't work for a bad boss if you can avoid it.
2. Figure out what a bad boss means to you. But my criteria (especially right out of school) includes working for a boss I can learn from and a boss with high EQ (a boss who understands when his/her employees are stressed or exhausted or confused it makes a big difference).
3. Learning how to not burn a bridge is smart. But burning them happens sometimes. Try to please everyone and you will lose. It gets easier with experience (plus if someone is talented at their job, these ppl seem to be able to not burn bridges no matter how big an asshole they are). Maybe one reply to your boss could be: 'Thank you. Please let me know when you get that contract so I can discontinue my current talks with other companies'.
4. Believe in your startup and its product. Maybe more important than a good boss, ymmv.
5. Always be networking and getting to know people in your industry/in your city. Even if you don't call it "applying" I would be reaching out to other startups now. Email them say you are graduating and ask to learn more about what they do.
I don't know if you actually want to use this phrase...
But to me, it's like this: If they guarantee, in writing, in a contract that gives you recourse if they fail to perform, that they will hire you, then it's reasonable for them to ask you to give them, in an enforceable contract, your promise that you won't look elsewhere. If they're not giving you that kind of guarantee, your answer should be "no", however politely worded.