<p>Do summer internship companies do extensive reference checks? I'm worried because I don't have many people that know me well enough to give reference letters or phone calls...</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>If they ask for them they most likely intend to contact them. </p>
<p>You don’t have any professors or previous employers that will be a reference? College is a time to make a lot of contacts. If you don’t have any than you are at a disadvantage, plain and simple.</p>
<p>The only work experience I have was in high school (I am only a freshman in college lol) but my schools career center says its possible to get an electrical engineering internship as a freshman. I dont think my previous work experience as a lifeguard would mean anything for an EE internship. I am trying to get professor contacts but so far its kinda tough</p>
<p>Ok…the place you worked is not important. What is important is that you have a boss who thought you worked hard, did your job well and had a good attitude. </p>
<p>Getting professor recommendations isn’t hard. It only requires a little bit of social aptitude. Go to their office hours, participate, and do well. Then ask for a rec. They do it all the time.</p>
<p>None of the places I applied to asked for references.</p>
<p>at the pool i worked at, 3 managers liked me, and 3 managers hated me hahaha…</p>
<p>So if I only list the 3 that liked me would they go beyond my references and find a way to call the 3 managers that hated me?</p>
<p>Sorry if it feels like I am wasting your time, I don’t wanna bug anyone</p>
<p>I would put the one who liked you best as the contact on the application. The recruiter won’t be going out of his/her way to find people who don’t like you. The only thing that could happen is that when they call the manager who liked you is unavailable and the person asks if there is another manager available who knew you. Most likely that wouldn’t happen though and the recruiter would just leave a message.</p>
<p>On a related note: what do you talk about with professors during office hours? If you dont understand something you should really be able to figure it out using resources available like the Internet and tutors not to mention that they usually have TAs that are supposed to answer all your questions. I just cant seem to come up with a reason to see professors outside of class! The only thing I can think of is to join a club they are an advisor for but most professors aren’t club advisors.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, they won’t. List the ones that like you and CALL THEM to ask if it is okay - giving them a heads up so they aren’t blindsided IF someone calls.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They wouldn’t create office hours if they wanted you to use the internet/TAs for questions. Professors are just people too =P. If a topic in their class peaks your interest go to their office and ask about it. If you see them around campus, say hello and give them a “see you in class”. I ALWAYS went to office hours after tests or projects and discussed what I did wrong and even if I understood why I got it wrong I would ask for tips on how to study better. </p>
<p>These are men and women who are passionate about the subjects they teach and are more than happy to help confused/ambitious students. They are usually more than happy to write recommendations for students who show a good attitude in their class. They know students need recs and they know they’re some of the few people who can provide relevant recs for internships.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Ok thanks for answering my questions. I have 3 managers who I feel would give me solid recs (because they are the managers that actually appreciate the employees, whereas the 3 that hated me just hated everyone in general). I will list the best 2 and see where it goes :)</p>
<p>As for office hours, I am not struggling with any of my classes yet so it would be awkward to just go there to talk, but I have introduced myself to them and am doing well in class. Next semester or during my major related courses I am going to put serious effort into getting to know the professors, because they will be the ones helping me along the way, not the professors of random GenEd classes.</p>
<p>^ Participation in class, coming to office hours WHEN you have questions, and being a good student will usually be more than enough for them to “like” you enough to give you a rec… Asking them about their personal lives, coming to their office hours to make small talk, puting forward a serious effort to get to know them,…ect is awkward.</p>
<p>If it happens naturally let it…no need to put forth a serious effort and force it.</p>
<p>^^You’re probably just an awkward kid who makes EVERYTHING awkward. I went to have small talk all the time with my professors and I keep in contact with all of them and even had dinner with two of them last week.</p>
<p>Don’t listen to someone who claims small talk is awkward. They are probably just an all around awkward person who have the social skills of a rock. Seriously, your professors are just people too. Why would small talk be awkward? “Oh my big bad professors only want to talk about their work all the time and never anything else!”</p>
<p>Yeah…</p>
<p>^ you got me!</p>
<p>Seriously, what’s with you and the personal attacks?!?</p>
<p>I’ve seen students go to office hours and start talking and joking around with the professor. It WAS awkward. Professors hold office hours to help you and give you advice NOT to become your friend and talk about the weather. Plus they actually have work to do. I think its a bit silly to put “serious effort” into trying to develop a relationship with them.</p>
<p>With that said, go to the office hours if you have questions, be friendly, and ask for advice/help. Professors generally WANT to help you if they can. Sometimes they can even feel flattered that you are asking them for advice/help. A professor of mine helped me with my cover letter & resume. I later used her as a reference.</p>