Get an Engineering Internship

For anyone wanting to become an engineer, internships are a great way to get your foot on the door in the workforce. They help build your qualifications while also giving you valuable insight into the engineering career. Because applicants usually have little to no professional experience, recruiters are focusing mainly on their skills and attitudes. Read below to find out how you can get the internship to start off your professional career.

Steps

Preparation of Internship Hunting

  1. Have a Resume/CV Written. A resume is essential for anyone wanting an internship or even a job. It should contain all the basic info (contacts, regular work experience, etc.) while highlighting your hard skills (coding, Microsoft Suite, etc.) educational level, and relevant experience. If you don't have any professional experience, putting upfront your personal projects, school clubs, and specific engineering classes are another great way to display how you are for that internship.
  2. Have a Linkedin Profile made. Most recruiters expect coming engineers to have a Linkedin profile nowadays and this is another way to prove you are a competitive candidate. Similar to a resume, you want to show your best professional attributes to recruiters looking at your profile. However, you are greatly limited by one page for a resume. It is best to list off all your experiences and skills here while having a professional photo of yourself.
  3. Have Professional Clothing. For most engineering jobs/internships, the dress code is often either business casual or formal for both genders. It is important that you have a proper wardrobe to use for both in-person and online interviews. Some clothing ideas to have in your closet are:* Suit* Button-Up Shirt* Slacks
  4. Have a list of Interested Companies/Industries. It can be overwhelming as there are numerous internships everywhere and choosing which to apply. Having a list of companies and industries you think you want to work, it helps narrow down what you want to do and gain proper experience in a field you are interested in.
  5. Look Back and Make Connections. Taking a look back at your family members, friends, and even professors you made an effort to connect with is another way to expand your internship options. You should find out where they work or used to work and ask them for a referral to an internship position.

Searching for an Internship

  1. Use Job Seeking Sites/Linkedin. This is where you would begin your main job search. Websites usually hold internships and can tailor to what you looking for in a position. Some websites other than Linkedin are Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Internships.com.
  2. Look into School Engineering Resources. Utilizing your school resources is another way to find internships or engineering programs that can also give you valuable experience. Check your engineering office for any job postings they may have, ask the professors for more listings, and see if there are any career fairs or events that help you expand your options.
  3. Create Cover Letters. For most online engineering applications, they give you an option to send a cover letter or just submit it with a resume only. It is highly recommended to have a cover letter written that can be used for multiple applications to show employers that you take the extra mile in applying and save time without having to write a new cover letter each time. Just make sure to check your letter and change who is it going towards.
  4. Submit Applications Early. Applying early is the best strategy to get noticed by employers first because you are competing with other interested candidates. This helps put you to be considered first and increases your chances of approaching into the next step in the application process.
  5. Keep Track of Applied Internships.

Securing the Internship

  1. Dress/Groom Yourself. First impressions are everything to show that you are a ready professional worker to the employers. Consider the appearance of people working at the company you’re applying to and try to replicate that as best as possible. For some internships, you can dress more casually, but for an interview dressing more formally is the safest option.
  2. Cover Interview Questions. Consider the questions you’ll be asked ahead of time. You’re more likely to be nervous if you have to think of your answer on the spot.

Some questions may include:*What are your strengths and weaknesses?

  1. Do Research Over Company. For the companies that have called you back and request an interview, you should spend some time browsing the company website. See what the company does and what your position specializes in in order to come up with questions to use in the interview.
  2. Be Confident and Interested. One of the biggest things employers are looking for in an interview is composure and confidence. Sit upright, maintain eye contact, and speak up. A common mistake internship and job applicants make is overemphasizing how great the experience will be for them. Try to phrase all of your answers in ways that demonstrate your value to the employer.
  3. Send a Follow-Up Email/Message. Job and internship-seekers often send a follow-up message to thank the potential employer for their time and restate their excitement about the position. You should wait two or three days before sending the follow-up.

References

<ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2015/01/30/the-10-best-websites-for-finding-an-internship/#266ce52763f8 <ref>https://www.internships.com/career-advice/search/resume-101 <ref>https://joinhandshake.com/blog/students/engineering-internships/

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