Close to graduation, starting an internship with unclear long-term options.

Anonymous

January 19,2023 at 4:50PM UTC

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Close to graduation, starting an internship with unclear long-term options.

I graduate this April and am starting an internship with a consulting firm right after. As far as I can tell, the company seems to be exactly what I'm going for (though in some ways I'm still trying to figure out what that is too), and many of my professors (some of who are partners in the firm) and friends have recommended it. But they were pretty fuzzy about long-term options. They've given the impression that this is because they're a smaller firm and quarterly budgeting restrictions are hard to predict. I know one individual interned with them for 6 months before getting hired full-time and was always in the dark about when/if that would happen (though I don't know how well she was communicating with them).

I'm fine to work as an intern for a couple of months, but at some point, I'm going to need a full-time job with better pay and benefits (the internship pays $16 an hour). I also feel pretty qualified to start a full-time position with a company like this. I have a 4.0, lots of research and analysis experience, and previous experience with a similar consulting firm, among other things.

At what point should I start seriously looking for another job? I figure I should do so anyway to try and get a more competitive wage, but I'm not sure on the best timeline for this or how to best communicate with my internship providers about the situation.

And is it expected or looked down on to be a "player" when it comes to job searching? I could start looking for future jobs now, but I have the impression that if I got a full-time offer with my coming internship I would want to take it - so I'm not sure if it is inappropriate to start interviewing at other firms. But it could also be that I'll start the internship and dislike it and want to change.

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AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 8:22PM UTC
Check out your state laws. In some states it is now against the law the have unpaid interns. And for what it's worth, in my opinion, you should get paid for whatever work you do, no matter what. If that company isn't going to guarantee you a permanent job at the end of the internship, or if that's not how they operate (no matter how big or small they are), that is a red flag. It's the same thing as going to an interview and them asking you to do an unpaid project that you spend hours or days on. It usually is a project no one wants to do, they need done, and get you to do it. OR, they get your concept/idea in the form of your project, use it, and make money off of it FOR FREE. Uh-uh! Good Luck to you.
VerityJanuary 19,2023 at 8:27PM UTC
Intern with them and see how it goes. I'd try to be honest with the firm and ask if they have any positions available. If not, explain that you may have to leave to pursue a more suitable role soon and they might try to make you an offer.
I'd search for jobs and apply meanwhile just in case.
AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 8:34PM UTC
Consulting is not the place to be if you are looking for something with more guaranteed staying power. The money is excellent there, but I have known consultants that wait months between contracts. If you want to do consulting work, you might have better results with a more medium-sized firm than the large firms that favor those that book the most hours or the small ones that may not have enough business to keep consultants on board between contracts.
AnonymousJanuary 23,2023 at 6:53PM UTC
Start looking for a job right now. Definitely explore all options before you make that first big move. If you excel at that company the references that you will get from there if they don't take you on FT will help you find stable footing afterwards.
Good luck...and take your time. Don't put the cart before the horse.