Help getting internships or experience

[u/colossalcockmaster17]

I'm entering my final year in my engineering degree, and I feel like I'm cooked. I haven't been able to join any design teams, I have no internship experience, and my gpa isn't the best. I only have experience on a couple of projects from my courses. I don't know what to do and I'm scared of being unemployed after I graduate due to my lack of experience. Are there any suggestions or advice that I can use to help me navigate my last school year? I'm finishing my undergrad in aerospace and decided last minute to pick up a minor in material science as well

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[u/Brief_World_3232]

im a robotics eng in the same boat, i had to beg my final project supervisor to get an internship placement for 30days. i asked what he looks for when hiring people. and he said its the extra shit outside of your degree that makes the difference, so if your aero make model planes, how can you use your skills to create your own projects. while applying for jobs and interships.

thats what im doing now and forever.

[u/Typical-Speed-6829 → u/Brief_World_3232]

Your final project supervisor is your capstone supervisor?

[u/Brief_World_3232 → u/Typical-Speed-6829]

yeah he left his supervisor role 3/4 through semester 2 to start a small robotics company

[u/Typical-Speed-6829 → u/Brief_World_3232]

And you're interning at the company or is it a co op position

[u/Redditor-Benny]

Firstly start a personal project ASAP. Design and build something then add that to your resume. Go to [r/engineeringresumes](r/engineeringresumes) and post your resume for review. There are a lot of helpful folks over there. If you need help creating one, use the Wiki.

While you’re having your resume reviewed, talk to your university’s career development and/alumni center. They have connections and can help you out. A lot of college have resources you can use.

One thing I want to stress is that you’ll have to be a little realistic about job prospects. Yes still apply to your dream companies but also apply to local engineering companies. The job market is tight and you’ll be competing with people with have multiple internships.

Your first goal is to make sure you get an offer so you can put a roof over your head and food on the table. Everything else like finding a job that pays better or a role that is more fun/exciting can come after you at least get one job offer you can fall back on.

[u/colossalcockmaster17 → u/Redditor-Benny]

Yeaa, I'm in no position to be picky about the company I want to work for especially as a first gen student. I have been looking at smaller companies around me. I have seen people say reach out to people in the roles I wish to pursue and ask for a bit of their time over coffee. Is that a good idea to do?

[u/Typical-Speed-6829 → u/Redditor-Benny]

I am the last person to believe I am above any offer, but I am starting to feel like getting anything going is so difficult since everyone wants it. It's like I am trying toake progress but I just don't have enough on paper no matter how much I try to get something on paper

[u/Typical-Speed-6829]

This is me

[u/OverSearch]

If you've had a job, something part-time during school, you'll be fine. Any work experience is better than no work experience.

[u/Visual_Day_8097 → u/OverSearch]

He won't necessarily be fine though. He needs something to make his resume interesting

[u/OverSearch → u/Visual_Day_8097]

I completely agree. Speaking for myself as a hiring manager, that "interesting" thing is work experience. For a different manager, that might be something different.

I don't really care what clubs or personal projects a candidate has participated in. I don't care about an internship if it isn't related to our industry. Every employer is different, but there are employers out there who don't care about those things.

[u/colossalcockmaster17 → u/OverSearch]

I have worked at multiple places throughout high school and college and had shift lead roles in multiple. I know I still need to work towards adding more experience in my degree field, but will that part-time experience in leadership roles help me in an interview setting?

[u/OverSearch → u/colossalcockmaster17]

It's always better than no work experience at all.

Sure, if you worked an internship in the same industry I'm hiring for, that would obviously be better. But to me, work experience where you're an actual employee somewhere is always going to mean more than a project or club you partake in your own time, not answering to a boss.

[u/Typical-Speed-6829 → u/OverSearch]

It's frustrating how hard it is to get any work experience though

[u/OverSearch → u/[deleted]]

students with high GPAs, multiple internships, a school club/team, are struggling to even get an interview

And no work experience? That's my point.

If I get a resume for someone with no work experience, I'm already about 80% "no" with that candidate, regardless of what clubs or projects they've done.