Engineering internships are an amazing opportunity for students to develop themselves professional. Internships are so much more than just a summer job and some experience in your chosen field.
Let’s take a look at how you can make the most of your summer internship. With a little focus, what you earn will extend far beyond your bank account.
Make Connections
You are going to meet a lot of people. You’ll never see or hear most of them again. However, a select few could make a profound difference in your life. And some of the people you don’t meet could also fall into the latter category if you just gave them a chance.
Take this opportunity to meet every single person you can. If you’re bad at remembering names (I know I am,) write their names down. In a big office, make a map and put their names on the map. Keep details about each person (Cameron plays rugby on weekends, Josh is in a band, Amanda writes fiction and her family grows wine grapes) in a notebook of some kind. If you don’t already have a note-taking tool, Evernote is great for this.
After you meet someone, add them on LinkedIn. After the internship, send them an “it was nice to meet you” note.
One of these people might hire you some day. Or they might connect you to someone who will. Or they might just be the mentor who guides you through your career.
Practice Communicating
The character Raj Koothrappali from TV’s Big Bang Theory
I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those shy engineers. I mostly want to just solve problems and not talk to people. That’s not how life works, though, and you should get used to that during your internship.
Say hello to everyone. I mean EVERYONE. Say hello at the coffee pot, in the parking lot, and in the restroom. Okay, maybe not in the restroom. But take every appropriate opportunity you have to speak and interact with people. I don’t care if it’s the CEO, your manager, or the cleaning crew, speak up and get noticed.
For many engineers – I’m one of them – communication is difficult. I’m the Raj Koothrappali of every room I walk into. But it’s not just women who make me silent. It’s every person who is not in my inner circle of friends. However, I’ve learned to get over that. And a world of opportunities opened up to me when I finally rose to that challenge.
Remember That It’s a Three Month Interview
It’s day one on the new job. You got through the job fair interview and then the HR interview on the phone. They brought you out for the onsite interview and you even rocked the house during that awkward panel interview of engineers who are now your colleagues.
Guest what … you’re still interviewing.
When you throw on that jacket, try to not accidentally showing up dressed like someone else. Cliff and I used to do that fairly often.
This is a 3-month interview. Your new employer and new team know it, you should, too. That doesn’t mean wear a suit and tie every day and walk around with resumes. However, it does mean to always look and act sharp.
Just like a regular interview, dress one notch above everyone else. If they’re in khakis and golf shirts, wear khakis and a button down or slacks and a golf shirt. Consider throwing on a sport coat from time to time.
Look your best and act your best. Yes ma’am and yes sir go a long way. So does a little extra effort. Read up on the company and the technologies you’re using. Ask questions.
The Final Takeaway
Every interview you go on is a learning experience. Even if you don’t want to work at this company, view it as a three-month interview and learn from it. Find new ways to connect with people. Develop interpersonal skills. Learn tricks of the trade.
This is more than a paycheck and some real-world experience. Your internship is 40-hour semester of college. Learn everything you can from it.