Navigating Overlapping Dates: Should I Share My Internship Certificate with My New Job?

I hope you are doing well. I did an internship with, let's say, Company A from January to June 30th. As I received an offer from another company for a full-time position, which they told me they had an urgent requirement starting from June 29th, I said yes. I didn't inform them that I was doing an internship until June 30th. Now, they are asking me for an internship experience certificate. Should I provide them with the internship certificate that shows an end date of June 30th? Will this create any problems?

Hi Psb, is it in Kuala Lumpur? If yes, I don't have experience with practices in Malaysia, but I'm sharing these views based on Indian conditions only.

As far as I know, an internship is not a job per se. There may not be an 'employer-employee' relationship established yet. It's only part of your curriculum. Students are doing part-time jobs, likewise this. Many courses include a compulsory internship of a prescribed period, which I hope you have completed by the end of June and received the completion certificate as well.

A few days on this side shouldn't be a problem. As long as the hiring company has no issue accepting your internship certificate completed by 30.6., you'll have no problem. My opinion is you shouldn't hide the fact, especially when they ask you to produce this certificate; you'll have no option either. Simply show a copy of the certificate to the concerned HR in advance before submission without highlighting the overlapping date on your own. Only clarify the position if you are asked to. See what transpires, then act depending on the development. My hunch is you'll have no problem with this issue.

I am an Indian citizen. Due to VPN, this site detected CiteHR. Actually, I am in the 4th year of my B.Tech engineering degree, and as part of a college project, I did an internship with Company A from January to June. I already had an offer from Company B as a full-time employee from campus placement. I continued my internship with Company A until June 30th (on paper). My project was completed on June 24th. Due to COVID-19, as the onboarding process for Company B was remote, I assumed that a 2-day overlap wouldn't make much difference. However, now, hearing stories from my friends, I am a bit scared that they might terminate me. Additionally, the papers I signed for the onboarding process contain a statement that reads, "At the time of signing, you should not be employed by any other firm."

What should I do? Please help.

Internship and Employment Concerns

Actually, where are you now? Have you already joined? If yes, did you face any problems? An internship, in my assessment, is not employment. Don't worry. Many students, including interns, work in more than one place part-time to support themselves. The question will only arise if you are truly employed elsewhere simultaneously.

I already joined Company B on 29th June. The Company B terms contain this exact line:

"I confirm that at the time of making this declaration, I am not presently employed or have accepted an offer for employment with any other organization whether part-time or full-time on a temporary/permanent basis. Except as mentioned below."

At the time of joining, I didn't have an experience certificate as Company A was going to give it after they received the IT assets. Now, they have given me an experience certificate till 30th June. Company B is asking for it, but I joined Company B on 29th June. Due to the term I quoted above, I'm now afraid to send them the experience letter, and they reminded me two days back to submit it. What should I do? Should I wait until they forget about it or just send them Company A's experience letter?

Handling Internship Completion and Job Start Date

You may delay it, but ultimately, the experience letter or course completion (internship) must be submitted when they insist on giving you a last date for submission. I don't think you'll face an insurmountable problem. In the worst-case scenario, the salary for only 2 days (29th & 30th June) has to be refunded as a solution to this. If any questions are asked since Company B wanted you to report for duty on the 29th itself, inform them that having completed all formalities of the internship by then, you preferred to join Company B. This is only inadvertent.

Possible Solutions

Do you think the internship date can be corrected to show only up to 28th June? Will it pose any problem? Can you try this alternative if nothing works? Also, did you get your course completion or provisional degree certificate, or are you waiting for the results?

I will try your solution for Company A to change the date from the 30th to the 28th. I am currently waiting for the results. Additionally, our exams did not take place due to the COVID situation. Thank you.

Company Policy on Date Changes

Okay, I contacted Company A. They are saying we can't change the date from the 30th to the 28th as it's against their company policy.

Deadline for Internship Certificate Submission

Company B has given me time until the end of October to submit my internship certificate. I think I have to give it. Let's see what happens.

Submitting the Certificate

Submit the certificate and see what happens. Maybe you won't be entitled to a salary for those days that overlap. Be truthful. Not a serious issue in my opinion.

I fully concur with the views of Mr. Kumar. As the said internship was part of academics in the final year, I don't think that a day's overlap, especially due to onboarding from home because of the universal COVID-19 pandemic, initiated by the prospective employer, can have any effect on the internship that was actually completed earlier or on the joining of the job that was virtual only.

Anyway, perceptions can differ. Therefore, the poster should not hide the fact. If any query is raised, he can explain. Youngsters should always bear in mind that employment is a critical phase in one's life. Honesty, integrity, and reliability are the basic qualities expected of an ideal employee rather than efficiency, which can be acquired through experience.