<p>I am starting to get extremely frustrated, I have been attempting to get a mechanical engineering internship for the past three summers, but have failed every time. </p>
<p>I am not going to post my resume in its entirety to remain anonymous, but here are the highlights of my resume at the moment: </p>
<p>Summer 2010 - REU for Syracuse University optimizing design for low cost / easily manufactured water filtration systems for third world countries. </p>
<p>Summer 2011 - REU at the University at Buffalo - developed an infrared sensor / tracking system accurate to within 5 millimeters. </p>
<p>Summer 2012 - Rejected from internships / jobs / REUS everywhere. I applied to GM, Ford, Moog, General Dynamics, Federal Highway Administration, Praxair, SRC, Cameron, etc. Since I could get anything for this summer I am enrolled in summer classes. </p>
<p>However, I did some freelance consulting for a manufacturer here and optimized their production line, and will end up saving them almost $15,000 per year. I was hoping that after my consulting that I would receive some kind of internship offer, but they did not extend any offer. </p>
<p>Clubs: </p>
<p>President of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers 2012-2013 / Member other years </p>
<p>GPA: 3.5/4.0
School: University at Buffalo </p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice on what to do?</p>
<p>Truthfully, I think you need to network. Ive gotten more offers through word of mouth than any other method. Come to think of it, of all the resumes Ive emailed out, not a single one has led to anything. Talk to friends, neighbours, co-workers (if you have a job already). My current internship was made while I was still in a sales position. I just started up a conversation with a customer, and it went from there. Keep in mind, soliciting for an internship while on another companies clock is a no-no, but if it casually comes up in conversation…</p>
<p>Are you getting interviews?</p>
<p>Are you looking only locally? Or are you open to moving for the internship/coop? The ability to move really helps. I applied to a ton of internships/coops, both through my career fair, and searching on the internet. The internet actually worked just as well as my schools career fair as I got interviews with Volvo & Boeing because of it. I ended up taking one about 7hr’s south in Atlanta. Moving away from my wife for four months…but experience is a must, so you do what you have to do regardless of your situation.</p>
<p>I started early in the fall last year and by the end I probably applied to over 80 positions. Big companies, small companies, everything. They were all local though but luckily the Cleveland / Akron area has a lot of engineering opportunities. </p>
<p>I got some interviews and I even got one offer that I turned down. That was out of those 80.</p>
<p>I got another just through contacts. These are huge. I’m building up my list of contacts so when I start applying again on a few weeks I can talk to some people on the inside. </p>
<p>Finally, what got me my internship, calling around. You have to call places and harass HR until you get an answer. This eventually got me the interview and the offer for where I am working now. </p>
<p>You seem like an attractive candidate (good grades, being Hispanic definitely won’t hurt, etc) and you go to a good school. Now that you have practical experience I don’t see why you wouldn’t get one if you really tried everywhere you could.</p>
<p>Talk to some smaller companies as well. You have major companies and might just get lost due to a numbers game. Talk to smaller ones and make a personal touch. Online doesn’t do near as much.</p>