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Your Guide to Engineering Internships

Explore our comprehensive guide to the best engineering internships for college students.

Where to get engineering internships, who’s hiring engineering interns, and more tips below!

What is an engineer?

Engineering is a blanket term for a whole industry of innovators, designers, and problem solvers. With so many sub-categories of engineering, it’s not easy to neatly synthesize what exactly all engineers do.

7 types of engineers

While not are included, here are some different types of engineering roles to think about when assessing your career path:

Engineering major internships

Behind your favorite inventions, products, or even the device you're reading on right now, there’s an engineering team brainstorming the next latest and greatest. Depending on the type of engineering you’re interested in, you could be coding or building inspirational and innovative content.

In any case, you’ll gain skills that range from technical, interpersonal, and problem-solving. Internship opportunities in engineering can foster mastery of using both soft and technical skills to enrich and change the way we think and how we live.

How can I get an engineering internship?

Getting an internship in engineering could not be more exciting right now considering the sheer amount of demand in various fields. Engineering internships for summer 2021 will provide you with many valuable experiences and give you a taste of what it’ll be like to work as a full-time engineer later on. You’ll connect with potential mentors, learn engineering trips and tricks, and build relationships with co-workers with a range of expertise. And of course, it’s always a plus if it’s a paid engineering internship!

The best engineering internships help students strengthen resumes, provide valuable avenues to letters of recommendation, and can even convert into full-time jobs. If you consider all of the perks of an engineering internship and find them interesting and useful, then start your engineering internship search now!

Tips for your resume and profiles

Before you start sending out applications, make sure your resume is up to date and that you have fully filled out all your Handshake profile details!

With a complete profile, the best engineering internships are more attainable than ever. Recruiters are much more likely to message a student with a complete Handshake profile that says you want to work in engineering than an unfinished one.

Tips for your internship interview

When you land your first interview, be it a virtual interview or in person, make sure to come prepared and dressed to impress. Review your resume and cover letter to make sure you have specific examples of your experience to share, from clubs or coursework. You can even schedule a mock interview with your university’s career center or, if you’re tight on time, ask a trusted friend to grill you on some common interview questions.

Tips for networking at your engineering internship

Once you’ve landed an internship in engineering and settled into your day-to-day, start chatting with your coworkers! Whether they’re industry professionals or fellow interns, it’s important to treat them with equal respect. You never know what insights they could lend, or who could be a valuable connection down the line, five or ten years from now. Don’t be afraid to ask your new colleagues out for quick coffee chats, or request 15-minute informational interviews about their career trajectory.

Want more tips for getting the most out of your engineering internship?

Looking for specific advice for engineering internships for college students? Or are you hungry for further information even after your internship is over? A good way to delve even deeper into your career path growth is to attend a virtual event or two. Not only will you be getting more advice about your own career, but there will also be chances to network with employers, industry specialists, and other students sharing different perspectives.

Jobs you can get as an engineering major

Wondering where the “engineering internships near me” are?

Internships in engineering can fall under any of the sub-majors of engineering. Internships in any type of engineering are meant to guide you towards your desired career path and your summer or fall 2021 engineering internship could kick it in the right direction.

It doesn’t matter if you’re on the hunt for engineering internships in the Bay Area, engineering internships in Los Angeles, or even engineering internships in Sonoma county. By searching through engineer career paths and utilizing Handshake filters when applying for engineering internships, you can guide yourself in the right direction.

What companies are hiring for engineering?

On the list of 500 employers hiring on Handshake, there are many companies hiring engineers for both full-time and internship roles:

  • Procter & Gamble (P&G)
  • Honeywell
  • Philips
  • Vertiv
  • Boeing Company

Tips and tricks for your engineering internship

Want tips for getting and acing your engineering internship? Look no further.

How do I get an engineering internship?

When searching for engineering internships, it’s key to use the location filters provided on Handshake. You’ll be able to pinpoint engineering internships easily by selecting the city you want in the search bar. Easy engineering internships in your preferred city are just a search away.

You can even research possible job roles that you might want to explore during your engineering internship. Handshake also makes it easy to learn about roles in engineering simply by using the job role search bar.

And if you want to take your research one step further, you can even research top employers in the engineering field on Handshake. Just by using the Handshake employer search feature you can discover companies that are hiring in your specific field by filtering by “Industry.”

Where can I intern as an engineer?

Some companies that would be great for engineering majors looking for internships: Kiewit, Boeing Company, or Honeywell.

Engineering internships can be found all over! Even companies that don’t seem to have a main focus in engineering are looking for bright interns to help them develop. If you feel passionate about a certain industry, reach out or find a mentor to help answer your questions.

Are engineering internships paid?

Yes, you can find paid engineering internships on Handshake by using the search filters!

How much do engineering interns make?

Engineering interns’ earnings are dependent on the employer and the field they’re working in–just like how full-time positions of each respective industry of engineering vary. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a civil engineer is $87,060. Though, for an aerospace engineer, the average salary is reported as $116,500.

Are internships necessary for engineering majors?

While it's not always required, internships are key opportunities for skill growth and industry experience. Your internships will allow for building both hard and soft skills, and you’ll even network with people who could help you down the line.

When should you do an engineering internship?

It’s always a good idea to start earlier, rather than later when it comes to internships! Once you’re adjusted to your university workload and other engagements, you should apply to a few internships that seem interesting to you–even if they don’t exactly line up with your major.

If you’re unsure about how busy you’ll be later on in college, it never hurts to speak with your career advisor or an upperclassmen in the same major. That way you’ll get an idea of what your schedule might be like and then can begin thinking about when to start applying for an engineering internship.

What does an engineering intern do?

Engineering interns learn how to plan and execute technical production, communicate their visions effectively, and collaborate with a team on a shared goal. As an intern you might be expected to take care of some basic tasks and then move further up once you’ve grasped them.

What companies have engineer internships?

Some companies that would be great for engineering majors looking for internships: Kiewit, Kimley-Horn, or Honeywell.

What can you learn from an engineering internship?

During your engineering internship, you’ll learn some great soft skills like time management, accountability, organization, and teamwork. Additionally, you’ll be immersed in the world of engineering which will help develop knowledge of quantitative aptitude, how to manage engineering projects effectively, and about your company’s personal impact on the industry.

What should engineering interns put on their resume?

When putting together your resume, make sure to have all your skills, courses, and accomplishments laid out for employers to view. Also having your preferred job role and location on your Handshake profile is a great way to signal your interest to potential recruiters.

For engineering interns, some great skills to list would be specific technical skills, time management, ability to follow through and execute, and ability to contribute and collaborate in a team setting. It’s also key to mention organizations or projects that you led and can explain thoroughly. If you’re wondering how to get an engineering internship, start with a simple search on Handshake and don’t forget to update your profile and resume!

Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

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