How to Negotiate an Internship Offer

Negotiating an internship offer is similar to negotiating a job offer. You want to try and maximize the benefits that you receive from the position. However, because internships are competitive and because the company is going to train you and improve your professional skills, you need to take a unique approach to your negotiating strategies. These steps will help you to establish a solid platform to negotiate a better internship offer.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Consider whether the company will be willing to negotiate. Companies that have an established internship program generally do not negotiate internship agreements. Instead they have a standard form agreement that has a "take it or leave it" policy. If the company does not have an established internship program then they may be willing to negotiate with you.

2. Evaluate the offer in terms of how well it meets your professional development needs. Look at whether or not the internship will provide you with exposure, experience and training in the areas of your profession that you are most interested in.

3. Determine if the internship work schedule is going to work for you. Keep in mind that you still have classes to take and homework to complete.

4. Create a list of things that you want from your internship. Prioritize your list into groups of items that you want to get from your internship, items that you are neutral about and items that would be a plus.

5. Assess your competition. If possible talk to the other candidates to see how your qualifications stack up against theirs. Evaluate your own qualifications and objectively determine how valuable you are as an intern.

6. Develop a list of points that you would like to change about your internship offer. Keep in mind that this is an "internship offer" and not a "job offer." Therefore, you shouldn't expect a huge salary or an executive benefit package. You can expect, however, a reasonably flexible schedule to accommodate your classes, a reasonable number of scheduled hours and the opportunity to gain practical experience that is related to your major.

7. Initiate the negotiation process by presenting the employer with a type written list of items you would like to change in your internship agreement. Let the employer know that you are very interested in the internship, but that you would like to make a few small adjustments. Assure the employer that the changes will improve the value of the internship for both you and their company. Explain why you want, or need, to make each change.

8. Defend your requests for changes by citing why you are a valuable intern candidate and by explaining how the changes are going to improve the internship experience for the company and for you. If the employer is not willing to make certain changes try offering an alternative. If the employer is just not willing to make the changes be flexible. Don't force issues that the employer is not willing to change. Instead focus on items that the employer is willing to alter.

9. Allow the employer to leave with the upper hand. After all you are an intern and they are offering you an amazing opportunity to gain valuable experience. Transition from a position of power to one of subordination by thanking the employer for the opportunity to work with a great company and to learn from seasoned professionals. Shake their hand and exit.