OK, I went for my interview this morning. Everything went well and I should hear something by the end of the week. My problem is where the job is. The job is at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center, the largest hospital in Northeast Arkansas/Southeast Missouri. My problem is that I accepted an internship, not a job, earlier this week for a competitor of their's, NEA Medical Center. If they end up offering me the job, should I take even though I am doing an internship for a competitor? What's the worst that can happen? I am feeling nervous about all this. Should I disclose this to either of them? Should I just keep my mouth closed? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
is the internship paying? But you can use the competitors against themselves by driving up your pay. "i really want to work here, but X medical center is offering me a job that is offering a higher salary"...something like that. BUt it depends on who the boss is and what kind of vibe you got from them.
I probably would not disclose anything to either party until there is a job offer in your hand. If you do get the job offer, are you planning on staying on as an intern with the competitor?
Can you do both the internship and the job at the same time like they are on two different shifts? Otherwise choose the one that will further your career the most. If the internship gets a foot in the door to someplace better then take it. If the job pays more and there are good opportunities then take that.
Yes, that's the thing I am perfectly capable of doing both. The internship is from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The job is on Friday and Saturday from 10:30 PM - 7:00 AM. And yes, I want to do both. The internship is not paying but the job is, well the internship does pay a stipend at the end of the term but it's basically just paying me back for the class because I am getting college credit for it.
do both then. It will be tough but you can suck it up for a while until the internship is done. You get the best of both worlds. The experience and credit of on internship (plus getting your foot in the door there for a future job), and you be getting legit work experience and a pay check.
Congratulations you have somehow managed to find two good opportunities that don't conflict timewise. Definitely do both and do not mention anything to anyone. Kudos to you!
What would they be afraid of? That you'd trade vital trade secrets of theirs with a competitor? Neither should care very much (if you're not an officer) as long as your work at once place is not impaired by your work at the other.
Hoo-boy, I cannot re- and re-ephasize this point enough, Lil Pun! Please follow Hoop-T's advice there.
OK I have already accepted and started the internship. What I am waiting on is a job offer. So if they call, say tomorrow, and say they would like me to work for them, what should I tell them?
Check the paperwork when you start your job. You may have to sign a disclaimer that you won't work for any competitor. If you do, talk to their HR about whether an unpaid internship counts. The last thing you want is to be fired for this.
Seconded - in fact, I would arrange to go in early and check out all paperwork for both positions before your start date. Furthermore, Arkansas is an employment-at-will state (with some modifications - see here) so either place could fire you just because they don't like the idea of you working for a competitor (unless their employee manual states differently, which in most cases, it won't). Bottom line, I would be up-front and honest with both and see what they have to say.
How can I be fired from my internship? I didn't apply specifically for that locale and was placed there by the school.
Easy, they tell you that "your services will no longer be needed." It may be very well that they don't care, but if you're so sure of that, why don't you just tell them about your situation.
just work at both places and keep quiet. How long is your internship? a few more months? no one will ever notice.
What could possibly go wrong? Boss: Lil Pun, you did a really good job during your internship with NEA Medical Center. Can you please give us a resume and fill out this application for [insert wonderful job here]? Lil Pun: Sure boss. Boss: You were employed at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center while you interned here? Why didn't you say anything about it? Lil Pun: I didn't think that you would care. Boss: I wouldn't have cared about the job. I do care about honesty.
