Have you graduated?
Yes I did get an internship that summer, and the summer that followed. It started as luck. But in reality, it’s your portfolio and how you present yourself that mattered.
Getting contacts was the hardest part. I happened to get a list of contacts that my classmate tried the year before. I just sent out my teasers according to the list. Most weren’t looking for intern, some of the contacts were invalid. One replied and I had to impress them. I was glad I did. I sent out about 15 copies to different addresses, so you can guess what the success rate was like.
During your internship, try to be a good boy and establish a good relationship with everyone. I am not talking about sucking up(even though if you are good at it, it isn’t a bad thing). I am talking about getting to know them as well as help them know you.
They have no idea what to expect from you as a student, so it’s your opportunity to out do their expectations. Don’t complain about the kind of jobs you receive. Exceed their expectations each time and you will get more challenging ones the next round. Keep doing the same, raise the standard for their future interns!
An internship is an opportunity for you to learn and experience. Many thinks that you can improve your sketching or computer modelling etc. I think not. I think the important part is to learn how to interact with people on a professional level, as well as extending it to a personal level. You are also there to experience how they run their department/company, see what a good leader is, how to be a good team player etc.
It is an opportunity for them to understand if you are the right fit. So it’s really no big deal if you aren’t. This is something that cannot be forced.
That particular internship was the most memoriable one for me. I still miss the people there as well as the company culture. For a work environment, it’s really hard to find one with that kind of fit. But don’t get settled on one right now. You have to see more to appreciate it.
Bottom line is, you have to be absolutely agressive about getting an internship. Follow up your mails consistantly. Your attitude shows in every little detail in the action you take. You have to desire one. If you have the kind of attitude that you can settle for anything less than an internship, then chances are that you won’t get it.
If you have graduated, it can work for or against you. As a graduate you may be more competitive than those who havent, but this is subjective. However, many companies have the policy of not offering internships to non-students. Nevertheless, send out your portfolio first. If they like you, they will get you in.
and seriously, even though it was a pleasant surprise to see my first post on the forum, things are buried for a reason. You can PM me next time and i will be glad to answer your questions.
