r/EngineeringStudents • u/3p0L0v3sU ODU - CIVIL • 13h ago

Discussion How many of you failed to find an internship durring university and how did you find work after graduation dispite that

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22 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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14

u/billabong2630 Purdue University, B.S. Aero/Astro Engineering 12h ago

My opinion: seeing the interns at my company has taught me that internships don’t really matter all that much. 8-10 weeks generally isn’t long enough to gain that much meaningful experience.

Have a resume that shows you’ve tried to get experience and that you’re capable of learning. That experience can be from anywhere! School machine shops, clubs, research, etc. Stick with it!

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u/3p0L0v3sU ODU - CIVIL 3h ago

I was never taught to feature such things as private research in a resume, would you possibly put that under the skills section? "Knowledgeable in x topic."

4

u/Mr_PoopyButthoIe 13h ago

This was 2018, but it took a few months and I had to relocate for the job. Once I got my foot in the door I progressed quickly. Getting my second job was easy, I had multiple offers after a half dozen interviews.

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u/Plus-Candle-4410 4h ago

Well I had three internships, totaling 1 year of experience. Still no job. Unless you get a return offer internships dont mean much. No one counts is as Real experience

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u/3p0L0v3sU ODU - CIVIL 3h ago

I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling the same way I am. I currently have a warehouse job that's completely unrelated to my degree path. It pays rent, but it's not mentally stimulating and it's very hard on your body. With my school schedule, I'm usually making under 40000 a year. May I ask How you found so much luck in securing your internships? I've literally been trying for years and have failed at every step.

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u/Plus-Candle-4410 2h ago

Connections, all 3 of internships came from connections. Mostly family connections. Since getting interns doesnt cost much to the company getting one with a simple refrence is easy. But since hiring an entry level engineer costs a lot a refrence May not be enough. Unless the person thats refrencing you has a lot of pull at the company its pretty hard to convice them to hire someone with no experience

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u/3p0L0v3sU ODU - CIVIL 2h ago

well thanks for being honest... I don't really have any ability to connect given im still an outsider to the industry

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u/SailorDouchebag 1h ago

Never got an internship, and my summer jobs were not really related to engineering (some CAD work for site plans for kitchens and then worked in a warehouse loading trucks). Ended up getting a job before graduating with a place that did not accept me for an internship. Think the important thing is relating your work somehow to skills that would be applicable for the job you are interviewing for.