How to ask for an extension on an internship offer

Reach out to your point of contact

The first step you must take is to reach out to your point of contact at the company offering you the internship. This might be a manager, supervisor, hiring manager, or another representative from the company's HR department. You can do this directly by phone or email them as well. Email is the preferred method since it properly documents your request.

Express gratitude for the opportunity

Next, it is very important for you to show your appreciation for the internship opportunity. Whether by phone or email, you should dedicate a little bit of time describing your gratitude for the role. You should also highlight how excited you are to begin the internship program. Any statements regarding your enthusiasm for the role are encouraged here.

Propose a specific timeline for the extension

Your gratitude should be expressed in a few sentences by phone or a small paragraph by email, then you need to propose the extension for the internship. This should include start and end dates for clarity. You can also give your reasoning for needing the extension if you think it will help their understanding and acceptance regarding this matter.

Be realistic and flexible

Be ready for all possible responses. The company you are going to be interning with might easily grant your request, they might offer a compromise by giving you different start and end dates than you have requested, or they might tell you they can not grant your request. You should try to remain flexible with all of these possible outcomes.

Be professional and gracious

No matter what the response is, you should remain professional and gracious during this process. You are starting your professional career with this internship and it is critical you start it out on the right foot and carry yourself with professionalism. If your contact wants to discuss the matter further, take them up on this and schedule a meeting or a phone call.