<p>I’m a EE major as well.
When I worked in an engineering/lab environment, I always wore flats and business casual/conservative. Never wore skirts because it was incredibly inconvenient and I had to move around a lot.
Now that I am working in a corporate sedentary environment in an office cubicle, I wear suits (skirts or pants), nice shirts/blouses, cardigans, and heels.
The rule is to always be conservative. As a female in engineering you need to make sure that you look like you mean business - especially in a nearly all-male environment. </p>
<p>3" heels are fine, but they have to be tasteful. Wedges you can get away with being 4", but not any type of stiletto heels unless your pants are long enough to cover up most of it.
Nice shirts are good too, but you cannot show any cleavage and your straps need to be 4 fingers or thicker on your shoulders (or just wear a blazer over it).
I personally enjoy wearing blazers and suits to work - some people think it’s overkill but the key to advancing and having your ideas taken seriously is to look like you mean business. You don’t want to be cutesy or the “cute intern”- you want to look like a woman who can be the boss one day.
If you wear skirts or dresses, you need to wear them at or just above the knee, and don’t go with a heel over 3" (you’re not there so your coworker can fantasize about your legs). Wedges are the most sensible heels - there’s some great pairs out there are are leather and closed toe and look quite professional (and comfortable too). Don’t wear anything too tight in which you think your butt or any other area of your body looks “fantastic”. </p>
<p>Here’s a good rule of thumb I was told: if you would wear any article of clothing, shoes, hairstyle or jewelry to a club, bar, or just a night out, do <em>not</em> wear it to work. </p>
<p>I want to repeat my quip about dressing like you mean business. You’re a female in a predominantly male surrounding. If you are remotely attractive, I guarantee you that there will be someone you work with who will try to flirt with you or worse, make a move on you (assuming that you are not working in a place where every male is old enough to be your father). Don’t solicit these unwanted advances with too much makeup and/or not enough clothing. </p>
<p>Definitely email your HR person or supervisor and ask them what the dress code is.</p>