<p>I'm certain that I want to enter pursue a career in mechanical/aerospace engineering, despite having just completed my undergrad in physics, and work for a defense contractor or aerospace company. Anyways, I started today my manufacturing process intern position at a small company that manufactures small parts used by the major aerospace companies such as Boeing, etc. There are a few things about this internship that has me concerned. When I was given a tour of where I'd do alot of my work, it was only technicians working in the area of machining and electro-plating. I want to pursue a career where I can focus on numerical/computational work, but I won't get to use any software during this internship except maybe learning some CAD. Will developing experimental skills during this internship help me for my career in numerical work?</p>
<p>As for the office work, I was given some papers to read about the project I'd work on, which involves lots of cavitation theory. There was also some chemistry involved, so I figured this seems closer to chemE than mechE. Some other things have me worried about this position. My hiring manager is an accountant, not an engineer. Also, the job description mentioned they're looking for any science or engineering majors. Also, one of the interns stayed for just one day and then quit because she thought it was an mechE position until she was given a tour of the duties she would perform. Would it be appropriate if later on during the internship I can ask my manager to do some mechE-related work?</p>
<p>I'm a little unsure if this experience will help me become more employable in the future. I know that I shouldn't be picky especially given the current economy. Will having listed this experience in my resume make me look better to the major aerospace/defense companies such as Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, etc?</p>
<p>I’d say some experience is better than no experience, but this experience doesn’t sound too pertinent to what you want to do. I’d keep the job unless you have something better in hand…</p>
<p>Job experience is a big plus in this economy. Have to agree ^^, unless you have something better in hand, you might want to hold onto this job.</p>
<p>It never hurts to ask, and I would ask sooner than later.</p>
<p>Accounting and Engineering? See if you can do some six sigma work, i.e. green belt cert, that would at least boost your resume</p>
<p>What you are doing will be fine for a future engineering position.</p>
<p>Be glad that you’re not flipping burgers, rotating tires, washing cars, or construction this summer, as many of your friends are likely doing.</p>
<p>Perhaps I made a mistake by accepting this offer then… I was still following up for a few more internship positions that were more related to engineering, but I didn’t even get to have an in-person interview with any of them by the time 2 weeks had passed from the date I got the offer for this position. </p>
<p>Perhaps I should still try to interview for other internship positions? I don’t know if my current employer would be ok with that, but they are ok if I leave this position to find a full-time position elsewhere</p>
<p>anyways, I got to learn more about the project today. Our company is having problems with the parts its manufacturing, and since I’m the only one with a technical background in the group, they want me to research some companies that sell equipment using cavitation that they’re looking to buy</p>
<p>I was/am in a similar situation. Internships are just 3 months…get as much as you can from it even if it’s not what you wanted, like making an amazing impression for references in when u graduate</p>
<p>seriously though, I’m kinda down too…there are so many great positions open towards the mid semester and I committed way to early…but I"m trying to see things like I mentioned…make the most of it to get where I want to get.</p>
<p>‘but I"m trying to see things like I mentioned…make the most of it to get where I want to get.’</p>
<p>I wouldn’t mind spending 3 months doing work I dislike as long as it will really help me get the jobs I want in the future. But judging from the posts in this thread, getting the most of this internship won’t help me that much to get me the positions I eventually want.</p>
<p>The internship gives you experience working in a company more than experience working with a technology or process or specialty area of engineering. Interns really don’t get a good chance to do much actual engineering in 3 months because it’s such a short time.</p>
<p>Make the most of it, and you’ll be able to get the position you want when you graduate.</p>
<p>creepypasta, </p>
<p>like i mentioned, getting a reference is one of the biggest part of an internship. If you blow the company away and they tell a future prospective employer you were their best intern, then it’ll get you the job. </p>
<p>In most cases, when you go into internships you come back out with a whole new perspective on things, so stay optimistic.</p>
<p>Most engineering companies are not looking to see if you were taught to do the same job in your internship that you will be doing when you graduate. It is in fact, highly unlikely that is true. For a student with a strong math/science background, it looks great that you spent time in an internship doing hands-on or problem solving work. And of course, it looks good that you are working (many students can’t find a job right now). I say, take the job and do it well. You will learn relevant skills that aren’t taught in school.</p>
<p>Yeah, I suppose some experience is better than nothing. I’m just a little pessimistic about this since last year I had an internship for an operations research company, but having listed that experience on my resume didn’t help me land an engineering full-time or internship position</p>