<p>Hello,
so a little bit about me: I am studying at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. I am majoring in Electrical Engineering: Computer Concentration with a double minor in Pure Mathematics and Computer science. (Yes the engineering is ABET accredited) I have a cumulative GPA of 3.87 and a 4.0 GPA in my major. I have worked three jobs on campus while studying at the university (tutoring, study abroad office and mail room). I took a semester to do an exchange (study abroad) program at the University of Western Australia (a prestigious university in Perth, Australia) and I am on the University of Vermont Mortar Board Honor Society. I am also an eagle scout and a Boy's State Delegate (in new york state - I hear it's pretty highly regarded compared to other states).</p>
<p>My problem? I can't for the life of me get an internship. I just finished my second year in May and I will be starting my junior year this August. What am I doing wrong? I've applied for internships in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts (I am willing to travel!!) </p>
<p>Can anyone give some suggestions as to what I can try? Sites, Companies, words of encouragement or comments .. I think my grades are high enough and my extracurriculars are tip top. My university is pretty good, no ivy league but still pretty well known.</p>
<p>I am starting to want to give up :(</p>
<p>Don’t give up. Your not alone. Most students don’t get internships before they graduate. </p>
<p>Also know, that as you get closer and closer to your graduation date, more and more internship opportunities will start to open up because companies tend to prefer students who have: a) taken upper level courses and b) will be graduating soon (so that, if they like you, they could potentially offer you a full-time job, instead of having to wait 2+ years).</p>
<p>You might try broadening your search beyond that three-state area. You may have to travel quite far afield to find an internship. I ended up finding one in Alaska. The market is very competitive right now and you need to think beyond the box.</p>
<p>What skills can you market?
- What programming languages do you know?
- Do you know PCB design and SPICE software?
- Are you proficient with CAD (PRO-E, SolidWorks)?</p>
<p>The key is to market skills. Good luck. I have an internship, but I wish my GPA was as high as yours.</p>
<p>I know java, matlab and mathematica programming languages… do you think if I purchased a textbook on C or C++ and read through it I would be able to say that I know that language? Obviously it would be at a beginner level but I heard once you know 1-2 languages you can learn any.</p>
<p>I also have been using SPICE software for 2 years, can you recommend any other software I should download and learn to use?</p>
<p>I’m also a EE major with computer science interests, so we’re alike! I think the most marketable skill is mastery of C, C++ and Java (preferably all three). Then there is another set of useful things to learn: Python, Ruby, Pearl, etc. I’m working my way towards these goals little by little lol. CAD is also good and can open doors for more opportunities (Solidworks, AutoDesk Inventor, AutoCAD etc).</p>
<p>Have you try your school’s Career Center which is one of the best place to find internships. You also need to start early. For summer internships, start looking right after the start of the Fall term and continue all the way through April of the following year.</p>
<p>Your credentials are great, but they are useless without the proper networking skills. Rather than just looking on websites and using career services for current openings, try to get in touch with alumni from your school of all ages in the computer science/technological fields. Send them Emails, call them, and try and look for people who work at companies that do not publicly recruit interns, this will show them your passion and determination to advance yourself and it will also show your interest and desire to work for said company.</p>
<p>thank you rossman, I will focus on that this summer/fall semester</p>
<p>Both of my D’s took unpaid internships on campus early on in their academic careers, which gave them a basis to start with, and great letters of recommendation. D1 was the astro/physics major; her first internship was with a professor in an entirely different major who was looking for help in setting up a teaching website, so the internship wasn’t related to anything she wanted to do long-term. She was required to learn a lot of stuff she didn’t know, work with others, follow directions, and generally got some of the tasks that the prof and his grad students didn’t want or have time to do. It did provide an opportunity for her to work in an academic setting, and I’m sure that his recommendation pulled a lot of weight (as did the recs from professors and advisors) in the (multiple) internships that followed. Both D’s also had a lot of support (and suggestions) from their academic advisors as well. You may want to talk to an advisor or professor in your major and ask if they can give you input as to why your search has not been successful thus far. Have you had interviews or have you not even gotten that far?</p>