About internships..

[invidia]

Most internships I've come by always required some type of experience in the industry. I thought an internship was the way to GET the experience. I was turned down by 3 "entry-level" internships despite having a 3.97 GPA and 2 good recommendations.

How the hell am I suppose to get started into my career then?

 

[tfinch2]

What year are you? Major? Where did you apply?

 

[invidia]

Computer engineering/physics. They had open spots at some med-size company near my school and Intel came to my campus for interviews for jobs/internships

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: invidia
Computer engineering/physics. They had open spots at some med-size company near my school and Intel came to my campus for interviews for jobs/internships

What year are you?

 

[Gibson486]

First one is the hardest to get....i can tell you that right now. I lucked out on my first internship. They were really late in the hiring process for a firmware engineer so they had only a few candidates to choose from. I thought, "yeah, I got a non entry level internship!". Unfortunately, the only thing that that internship gave me was an idea that i did not want to do software. It was a really good position, but i just did not like it.

BTW, your best bet is to try unknown companies. bigger companies tend to only pick experienced people.

 

[Special K]

What classes have you taken? Speaking from my own interview experience, high-tech companies like Intel, AMD, etc. like to see project work that is relevant to what they do. Have you taken any digital logic, semiconductor physics, computer architecture, or VLSI classes?

 

[BHeemsoth]

If you're a Sophomore, obtaining an internship is difficult. I happened to get lucky last summer and obtain one at a small local company.

This summer (my Junior year) I'm interning at a major corporation, making just about $27/hr.

So, keep your head up, you'll find something.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: rpbri2886
If you're a Sophmore, obtaining an internship is difficult. I happened to get lucky last summer and obtain one at a small local company.

This summer (my Junior year) I'm interning at a major corporation, making just about $27/hr.

So, keep your head up, you'll find something.

Wow....you made more than i made at my third coop. congrats on that.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: rpbri2886
If you're a Sophmore, obtaining an internship is difficult. I happened to get lucky last summer and obtain one at a small local company.

This summer (my Junior year) I'm interning at a major corporation, making just about $27/hr.

So, keep your head up, you'll find something.

Wow....you made more than i made at my third coop. congrats on that.

haha...yeah.

When I saw how much money was out there for interns, I just about messed my pants.

 

[JetBlack69]

My only tip is to try and get an internship during the fall or spring because most people try to get it during the summer. Since there is less competition, there is a better chance of getting your first one.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I have three internship interviews this upcoming week...wish me luck.

For those who have had internships...how strict are they usually about taking days off. I planned a trip to brazil and i still plan on going....

I know schools care about the hours but I don't need the credit so I don't care about that.

 

[TheoPetro]

strictness will depend on the company. Really you just have to apply a bunch of places and see what one you like best. Some tool called me (at 8:30pm the night before a final) asking me if I was interested in an internship with his company. I said maybe but I would need more info. We talked later and he brought up compensation. He asked what I made at my last one and I told him. He then said "well I think you have been over compensated in the past and were not willing to match anywhere near that." So I said ok and hungup. Moral of the story, dont let people jerk you around about an internship. Its not free labor its cheaper, less experienced labor.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
I have three internship interviews this upcoming week...wish me luck.

For those who have had internships...how strict are they usually about taking days off. I planned a trip to brazil and i still plan on going....

I know schools care about the hours but I don't need the credit so I don't care about that.

I would not do that on an internship. You are only there for 3 to 6 months. It really depends which company you go to. Some will let you do it. Either way, it will leave a bad impression.

 

[archcommus]

I have a question regarding internship pay. I'm a computer engineering major, just finished my sophomore year, and I'm interning at a software company that I interned with last summer, as well, in addition to working remotely throughout the school year, so I've been here for almost a year now. I love the job, it's close to home, great working environment, good experience, however the pay last year as a freshman was $10/hour, not bad, but this year I haven't received any notice of it going up. Do I have the right to ask for a raise? How should I go about doing so? I know that if I was working at another major local company I could be making at least $13-$15/hour right now.

 

[SoLiDus88]

Its about who you know and not what you know. It'll become a lot more clearer by senior year.

 

[krunchykrome]

Some internships will have strict requirements while others will not. I didnt have the highest GPA in college and I still got a decent internship. Just keep looking and keep applying.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I have a question regarding internship pay. I'm a computer engineering major, just finished my sophomore year, and I'm interning at a software company that I interned with last summer, as well, in addition to working remotely throughout the school year, so I've been here for almost a year now. I love the job, it's close to home, great working environment, good experience, however the pay last year as a freshman was $10/hour, not bad, but this year I haven't received any notice of it going up. Do I have the right to ask for a raise? How should I go about doing so? I know that if I was working at another major local company I could be making at least $13-$15/hour right now.

Money is a big factor. However, it shouldn't be the main one as you are just interning. You need to find a comprimise. While the job pays only $10, what expereince are you getting? A job could pay you $15, but would you do anything that would help you or will you just push buttons? You should ask politely and point out that the going rate for an intern of your level is much higher than $10 (which, I have to say, is low to begin with). You are interning to not only gain experience in your field, but to also to gain expereince in the job market. You shouldn't accept low ball pay just because, but att the same time you shouldn't be greedy and ask for too much. It all comes down to what you value more....your worth or your enjoyment.

 

[Toastedlightly]

And here I had a slight hope of geting a CHemical Engineering internship as a freshman.. boy did I learn differently.

 

[BarneyFife]

Internships are not as easy to get. I sent out a bunch of resumes after my junior year and only got like 2 interviews. I got the job I wanted though and now that I just graduated, I'm going back to them to work full-time.

 

[SpecialEd]

the saying "its not what you know, but who you know" goes a long way when it comes to getting your first intership/job. Networking with friends of my parents is how I got my first real job.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: SpecialEd
the saying "its not what you know, but who you know" goes a long way when it comes to getting your first intership/job. Networking with friends of my parents is how I got my first real job.

Exactly, my first internship was at a company my mother worked for.