How to Get an Engineering Internship
Author: July R.
Level: 6
Instructor: Jing C.
Photo Credit: freebird2000 / 123rf Stock Photos
Article ID: 2877 [Employment- Fall 2023]
It is an undeniable fact that getting an internship especially in the engineering field is a challenge and assisting in projects under senior researchers becomes a desired career. Here are some useful tips about how to get an engineering internship.
First, have a goal in mind and keep the line. Start with a convincing resume and cover letter. You are a student. The companies are not looking for a professional, they are looking for someone they can develop. They are looking for a diverse set of interns, with different experience. University wants to know where you are now and where you want to go and see what kind of potential you have.
Second, work on the soft skills. Besides, there are skills that the employers are looking for being part of the groups. More specifically all experience is valuable and skills like leadership, cooperation, and communication skills are transferable.
Third, build your network with some tools like LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed, where you can find the complete system. There are recruiters and potential partners. These tools show analyses of local industries, and they tell you the tendencies of the market, the field and the areas of study, and the ways to connect with them. You will be able to get connections through messages or email on the platform. It could be a good option to get a mentor with the experience that you are looking for.
The most common alternative of placement and internship within the engineering sector is to research local markets and apply for positions in smaller firms. One supportive claim is that small companies are expecting how you can contribute and show your generic and fresh skills as enthusiastic graduates who aim to learn.
Fourth, career fairs are another resource that can help you to get an approach to the internships, as there are different options to build your path to a good job opportunity.
Fifth, cold-email professor who work in research groups. Research jobs are completely different from industry jobs. Follow the research groups and try to fit in this project. If you find it, you will be able to contribute.
In summary, I maintain that there is an infinite number of possibilities nowadays to gain intern opportunities so that you could build a brilliant career.