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I interviewed for an externship with a DOJ agency, but I don't know if I received an offer. They were interviewing for summer, but told me I wouldn't be able to do summer because they wanted someone for 5 days a week (I have a prior commitment that takes up 3 days of the week). However, the interviewers asked if I was interested in Fall and I told them I was. One interviewer gave me there email address and told me to contact her in April regarding the background check for the Fall externship. My concern is that the interviewer did not affirmatively offer me an externship for Fall, rather, they vaguely told me to contact them about starting a background check in April.


I am getting ready to apply for clerkships soon, thus, I was hoping to have an affirmative answer so that I could place the externship on my resume. Also, should I not be offered the Fall externship, I want to be free to pursue other options as soon as possible.

What exactly did the interviewer mean? Is there a way, whether in my thank you email or otherwise, I can get a clearer answer without overstepping any boundaries or seeming annoying?

Just e-mail the interviewer and ask. Nobody will think you're annoying or overstepping boundaries.

Just be honest about why you're asking -- its perfectly reasonable and logical that you'd want it cleared up in case it was not an offer so you could look into other options.

If you're that worried, just couch it in terms of your misunderstanding, not the interviewer's inability to make herself clear.

"Thank you very for taking the time to meet with me. It was definitely a pleasure and truly appreciated, and it is unfortunate that I could not extern there this summer.

I am, however, slightly confused as to whether interviewer X's comments (where she told me to contact her in April for a background check for Fall externship) at the end of the interview was an offer for an externship for Fall 2014 semester. The only reason I ask is so I know whether I should apply elsewhere for fall."



That being said, what would you put on your resume? "Externship at DOJ Agency (expected)"? I tend to not put things that I haven't done yet on my resume, but that's just me.

alphagamma wrote:Just e-mail the interviewer and ask. Nobody will think you're annoying or overstepping boundaries.

just realized your portrait is hajime no ippo. nice.

I could place the externship on my resume.

huh? Six months before you start? Does your Career Services recommend this resume strategy?

Anonymous User wrote:

I could place the externship on my resume.

huh? Six months before you start? Does your Career Services recommend this resume strategy?

I would put:

Office of... Extern -- Anticipated Fall 2013