Posted 12:02 PM, Fri., May 22, 2020
Students all over the country have experienced rescinded offers due to COVID-19, and students at The Grainger College of Engineering are no exception. Companies are faced with difficult decisions, so many are canceling internship programs, delaying start dates, or moving their internships to virtual work. If you are someone who has experienced a rescinded offer for the summer and are wondering how to talk about this with future employers, here is a list of frequently asked questions and answers to help you get started.
Should I include the rescinded offer on my resume or CV?
No. The fact that you obtained a position is great, but employers only want to see what you have accomplished on the resume. Since you didn’t produce any work, and therefore, have no results or accomplishments to show, you would not want to include it on your résumé. Instead, use that space to communicate what you did with the summer as an alternative.
But I think it’s important for employers to know I had secured an opportunity. How can I let them know?
There’s still a way to talk about this, it’s just not on the resume. During the application and interview process, you’ll have opportunities to share what happened. If appropriate, you can include information about your rescinded offer in the cover letter, but don’t focus the letter on just that. In an interview, you may get asked about the most challenging thing you’ve had to overcome or a time when you had to shift priorities last minute – these are excellent ways to talk about your rescinded offer! Talk about what happened, but then talk about how you overcame the challenge – you got a different internship, you took on a part-time job, or you enrolled in other courses to grow your skills.
My friends told me most companies are cancelling internships and summer hiring; are there any positions left?
Yes, most definitely! Companies are still adding positions to Handshake and other online job boards every week. Several industries have not been impacted by COVID-19, and are continuing to hire, such as hospitals and biomedical industries. Now is the time to think outside the box and consider opportunities that will grow your skills – personal, professional, and technical. Don’t worry about whether or not you’ll be “stuck” in a certain industry for the rest of your career. ECS Advisers can help you create a story around your transferrable skills when you are ready to apply to the next opportunity.
ECS Advisers have expanded advising time and are ready to help you. If you have been impacted by a rescinded offer, schedule an appointment in Handshake to discuss what you can do this summer to stay active and add value to your résumé.