<p>Is it possible for me to get an engineering-related job/internship after my freshman year (over the summer)? I wouldn't have had any engineering classes other than general engineering classes, and basic sciences and maths so I'm not sure if an engineering company would be willing to take me on as an intern. I would also be interested in a non-pay position if it's close to home or my college. How would I go about finding opportunities for these kind of positions? I just would like a different job other than your typical summer job (I work at a bakery in my town)</p>
<p>A good place that a lot of people I know have done after one year of engineering is the local electric / gas utility. The bigger the company, the better. Most big utilities will have large summer internship programs that will pay decently and won’t be very selective.</p>
<p>Sure why not… Start with your college and ask about alumni who might be in your area working foe Engineering firms in your area, family friends, or just ask for “quick informational interview” at local firms and ask during the interview if they ever have considered an intern. Just make sure you like the firm and that YOU will be exposed to learning opportunities and not just be used as free labor.</p>
<p>I worked as a construction inspector with the state DOT the summer after my freshman year.</p>
<p>You probably have a career fair in the spring; you should go to that and speak to all the companies you’re interested in. Also look up any local firms in or near your hometown and start calling and/or emailing them about positions. Now is not the time to be too selective though; the important part is to get the experience and exposure to your field.</p>
<p>I’ve found a few REUs that will take students between freshman and sophomore year in the Boston area for Summer 2010. It just takes some looking around to see what you can find.</p>
<p>Yes. I got an internship with a large software company (won’t say the name), with my position titled “Software Developer Intern”. I definitely didn’t get the position because of my grades or classes since I didn’t even have a GPA when I was interviewing/applying. </p>
<p>If you want a legit internship after your freshman year, you have to have done something that ‘wows’ recruiters. Build something, do your own project, start a company. You need a differentiator, because 1) you are competing with students with 2-3 years of relevant experience and who have already had internships and 2) you don’t have any grades yet (summer recruiting at my school is usually done in the fall semester). You need to have some sort of proof that even though you may not be familiar with whatever you are going to be working on, you are willing and able to quickly learn what is required of you, and quickly put that knowledge to practice. </p>
<p>If you want some suggestions of things you can do, feel free to message me.</p>
<p>As I’ve stated in another thread, I’ve hired freshman with no GPA in the past (fairly regularly, actually). I’ve also hired high school students in the summer before college.</p>
<p>The “trick” is to let companies know that you’re willing to come back the next summer. A freshman (and usually also a sophomore) can really only perform the task a non-engineer could do, so they don’t add that much value. However, if I know I can get all of the training out of the way now, and have them for an entire semester next year (vs. a first term junior or senior that has to spend half the semester training), that does add value.</p>