How to quit an internship

To quit an internship, follow these steps:

Honesty is the best policy

You should try to be as honest as you can when providing the reason(s) for quitting an internship. This is good practice for future jobs as well as an opportunity to provide the company or individual with good ideas for how to improve their program and attract quality interns in the future.

Be thankful

No matter your reason for quitting the internship, you should be polite, respectful, and thankful to your manager or supervisor for the opportunity. Mention the different skills you learned or professional experiences you had, and try to highlight as many positive aspects of the internship as you can.

Ask for a letter of recommendation

Obtaining a letter of recommendation or reference can help you get a job in the future. This is why it is critical to be polite and thankful for your opportunity. You want your manager or supervisor to provide a letter highlighting all of your positive professional qualities.

A letter of recommendation can include things like your work ethic, skills, and responsibilities you had during the internship.

Determine the terms with your supervisor or manager

Figuring out the terms of your resignation with your manager can make clear to both parties the expectations for the rest of your internship. Rather than writing an email or calling them, try to schedule an in-person meeting. This is the most professional way to handle this situation, and it should leave you in a good light with your manager.

Write a formal resignation letter

Another way to keep things professional is to draft a formal resignation letter. This can be an official document with a header, body text, and closing statement. You can include the details discussed in your in-person meeting so that the letter acts as a record of what both parties agreed upon.

Finishing out

Even after you have completed the above steps, it is important to maintain a strong work ethic during the remainder of your internship. This will show your professionalism and increase your chances of securing a positive letter of recommendation.

Maintain a positive attitude and complete any assignments or projects you were already working on, if possible.