What Companies Did Right and Wrong When Canceling Summer Internship Programs, According to Would-Be Interns
COVID-19 has dramatically shifted college students’ summer plans, especially those who were planning to embark on internship programs. In early April, RippleMatch conducted a survey of 2,210 college students to learn the status of internship programs and entry-level positions that were slated to begin at the end of the academic year. Of the respondents who had secured an internship, 12% reported that their program had been canceled. However, most of these students had a nuanced take on the situation, especially how the change in plans affected their opinions of their would-be employers.
According to the survey, companies had a wide array of responses in canceling their internship programs – and students had clear opinions on what were the 'right' and 'wrong' ways to handle the situation. Among students whose internship was canceled, 38% reported that they received no additional communication or action besides the cancellation notice. Conversely, many companies desired to stay in touch with the prospective interns by offering a spot in next year's intern class (18%) or indicating that the intern would be prioritized when interviewing for a full-time position the following year (28%). Other companies offered some form of professional or financial assistance, such as an alternative experience like a workshop or 1-week immersion (13%), a financial stipend (11%), or introductions to other companies that are still hiring interns (7%).
Although students were understandably disappointed to hear that their internship was cancelled, the decision did not necessarily lead to a negative perception of the employer. Anecdotal feedback from students revealed that the way the company handled the decision and communication about the cancellation were much more likely to influence how students felt. Not surprisingly, companies that provided additional resources or communicated empathetically with their would-be interns were more likely to be perceived positively than those with poor communication and radio silence following the program cancellation. In addition to asking for qualitative feedback, we also asked students to quantify how a company's decision influenced their overall perception of the company; 63% of the interns whose programs were canceled did not change their opinion about the company, while 27% now view the company in a more negative light. Only 10% of respondents viewed the company more positively.
Overall, the report underscores that Gen Z candidates value honest, prompt communication and companies’ attention to their prospective employees’ professional development, even if a program is canceled.
To find out more about how entry-level roles and internships were impacted at the onset of COVID-19, download our Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19 report.
