When and how do I do engineering internships.

Hi Amanda,

I would like to start with the question of when to do get an internship.? I would say that, get an internship during the summer in the 3rd (junior) or 4th (senior) year of school. For this, you may have to start exploring different career paths in the last semester of prior year (2nd or 3rd). Once you narrowed it down to 2 or 3 career paths, explore further by reaching out to professor(s), your career center advisers and people in industries your are interested in. By the first semester in the 3rd/4th year, you may want to get your resume ready and get it evaluated by a career center adviser.

Now, the question of how to get one? Career fairs and other professional meet and greet events in school are the best opportunities to explore career options and know about people in the industry. I encourage you to attend these events and take the opportunity to network with people. Your network is going to help a lot during internship/job search at any point in today's job market.

What you need to look for in an internship opportunity? Your personality, career choices and interactions with your network will give you a sense of what to look for in an opportunity. But, I generally look at three different things in an opportunity in the order of learning potential, culture of the company and the compensation.

Hope this helps and good luck.

When: You should really attempt to secure an internship during the summer between your Junior and Senior years. If you can secure one the summer prior, all the better!

How: Easier said than done. Start with the traditional methods: college career fairs, college jobsite postings, etc... If you are ambitious, determine what local businesses employ professionals with your degree. Stop at the front desk and ask to leave a copy of your resume for HR; cold-call local companies and mention you're looking for a summer internship, 'paid or unpaid' (it would be very RARE to find a company that would provide an upaid STEM internship).

Hello Amanda,

You can go for an internship after your sophomore year at college and I think it is a good time because you will be able to know your strengths and weaknesses in the real world and you will still have a lot of time to overcome your weaknesses and improve your strengths. I'm not talkig here only about college-related skills, I also mean your social skills and personality because it's something really important when you look for a job after graduation.
In terms of how to get an internship, actually you can attend career fairs held at your college or you can look online to find a suitable one for your level.

I hope my answer was helpful for you.
Regards

Amanda:

Picking up from the first comment (Kalyon), it certainly helps if you know what Field you wish to major in when you apply for internships. But the more important thing is to establish a track record of working in one or more professional environments. Plus the earlier you do internships >(or any summer employment) the more money you will earn to offset college expenses.

College job fairs are an excellant way to get to meet prospective employers. You can also ask a professor or two in your chosen field for suggestions for internship employers. Go to the employer websites (under Careers or Jobs) and there will often be Internship Job Descriptions. I suggest starting your search no later than February, as Internships are often nailed down in the spring, well before summer vacation.

Finally, do not be too picky about taking an internship when one is offered. The Commenter, above, states: ", I generally look at three different things in an opportunity in the order of learning potential, culture of the company and the compensation." Especially for your first Internship, get the job first and establish an employment track record; you can worry about professional fulfillment later.

Good luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE