How do I get an engineering internship?

The best place to start your internship search is with companies that are actively looking for interns. Engineering firms will typically advertise this information on their career page, job-seeking sites like indeed, or even craigslist. There are also specialized engineering internships websites.

There are two main types of internship positions - paid and unpaid. Unpaid positions usually offer some level of compensation for your time, such as course credit or a stipend to cover the cost of living experience. Unpaid internships are easier to get into for the obvious reason that there is less competition.

The second step is to take any required courses or training to help you land your dream engineering internship.

Before applying for an engineering internship, you should take any upper-level engineering courses that may be helpful. Some academic programs require specific courses and other requirements before you're eligible to apply for an internship.

For example, a civics or mechanical engineer may be required to take six hours of applicable electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering coursework first to be accepted into an Academic Internship Program. Suppose you're looking for an internship outside of academia, like at an engineering company, for example. In that case, you may not be required to take any specific courses, but the competition for these more prestigious paid internships is high.

The third step is to polish your resume and cover letter. You should include what's called an objective statement. This statement should be no more than one to two sentences in length. Try to highlight some examples of how you could utilize these skills listed below in real-world experiences.

Several qualities engineering companies look for in interns:

• Education (or relevant courses)

• Communication skills

• Computer skills

• Multi-tasking abilities

• Taking initiative

• Problem-solving skills

• Terrific work ethic

Finally, consider when during the semester is the best time to apply for an engineering internship. For example, you should start applying for engineering internships well before the start of the semester. For most students, this would be at the start of the spring semester in January. However, many networking events occur at the beginning of the school year in September or October, so it's important to attend these events and keep your plans in mind.