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Reply to an internship rejection and keep the door open
- For College students
- You practice Getting the tone right
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
You didn't get the internship, but the recruiter's note was kind. Write a reply under 70 words, plain text: thank her by name, ask to be considered for the spring program she mentioned, and ask one question about what would make your application stronger. No disappointment or complaints, don't ask her to reconsider, and sign it "Best, Hana Mori".
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Letting feelings leak in. The AI picks up on your notes and writes 'I was disappointed' or hints you'd like them to reconsider. Try: Add: "No disappointment, no asking them to reconsider."
- Skipping the next step. AI rejection replies just say thanks, so the spring program goes unmentioned. Try: Add: "Ask to be considered for the Spring Co-op."
- Not asking for feedback. The AI won't ask what to improve unless you tell it to. Try: Add: "Ask one question about what would make my application stronger."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each part: "4 sentences, each under 14 words."
- Forgetting where it's going. AI adds bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in a recruiter's inbox. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, no headings."
What a strong prompt includes
- Mentions the spring program
- Asks one feedback question
- Keeps the tone steady
- Gives the sign-off
- Sets a length limit
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