Er if you guys want a specific major I am thinking engineering or accounting. I know that the job market is cutthroat and very competitive so I was wondering what is the ideal amount that a college student should have before graduating?
How much internship/relevant work experience do college students usually have?
- Thread starter kyrax12
- Start date
Ideal would be an internship every summer. In fact at this point its pretty much a requirement...
I think engineering would probably be more important to have internships for. Temp agencies and small businesses often have low-level accounting work, even if it is PT / seasonal hours. When I was looking around a few years ago, I don't remember seeing a ton of entry-level engineering slots (then again, I wasn't looking since I'm not an engineer). Most of the stuff I saw relevant to engineering was small manufacturing / CNC type of projects, so CAD skills would probably go far if you could demonstrate your abilities in an interview, even without a ton of experience (ie: I think having some mock projects made up would give someone an edge)
But yea, as much as possible never hurts
But yea, as much as possible never hurts
drinkmorejava
Diamond Member
- Jun 24, 2004
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I didn't have any relevant internship experience when I graduated in 2010 with a BS in Aero. I got a a scholarship through the government my Jr year and worked for them for a year out of school.
Honestly, I think the only thing that would really matter is having an internship over your last summer. More is better, but engineers from decent schools have jobs. It just depends how competitive you want to be for your favorite employer.
That said, you should be employed in some productive manner. Research for a prof. TA in your CAD class during the year. Maybe a shift manager at a coffee shop you have worked at. Something that shows you're not useless. I did some "above entry level" IT work at a family friend's IT company (don't tell your employers that last bit). I guess I was only able to do that though because I almost knew what I was doing.
Honestly, I think the only thing that would really matter is having an internship over your last summer. More is better, but engineers from decent schools have jobs. It just depends how competitive you want to be for your favorite employer.
That said, you should be employed in some productive manner. Research for a prof. TA in your CAD class during the year. Maybe a shift manager at a coffee shop you have worked at. Something that shows you're not useless. I did some "above entry level" IT work at a family friend's IT company (don't tell your employers that last bit). I guess I was only able to do that though because I almost knew what I was doing.
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What about doing an internship and a part time job related to the field while doing two classes in school?
I am trying to accumulate as much experience as possible.
I am trying to accumulate as much experience as possible.
mafia
Golden Member
- Jul 10, 2008
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I'm a BSME student. I graduate in May. I got an internship over the last summer and they offered me to work part-time during my last two semesters. Sometimes companies will allow you to continue interning while going to school which lets you put more experience time on your resume. Furthermore, engineering internships pay pretty good so that also helps a lot. This same company also gave me a full-time engineer 1 position offer which I accepted, so I will have a job immediately after I graduate.
Red Squirrel
No Lifer
Most jobs these days, even entry level, have ridiculous requirements like 5-10 years. Your best bet is try to get a summer student job in your field between college years. Then when you go to apply to places you can actually say you have experience. It might not be enough though but it's a start. If your course offers co-op, take it. That is a huge bonus if you can do that as you'll learn more than any course will be able to teach you.
Rumpltzer
Diamond Member
- Jun 7, 2003
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I had an internship after my first year of school (as an EE) because I could program. Once you have one, it's easier to get a second, a third, etc.
It mattered less to me because I went to grad school after undergrad, but I certainly had a resume filled with relevant work experience which put me ahead of most of my peers.
In lieu of internships, major projects (hopefully relevant, and self-guided or as a team) are also used as a judgment criteria for new grads.
So... internship is better than none. More internships give you more experience (which is good for both student and potential employer). Major contributions to relevant projects can be a substitute.
It mattered less to me because I went to grad school after undergrad, but I certainly had a resume filled with relevant work experience which put me ahead of most of my peers.
In lieu of internships, major projects (hopefully relevant, and self-guided or as a team) are also used as a judgment criteria for new grads.
So... internship is better than none. More internships give you more experience (which is good for both student and potential employer). Major contributions to relevant projects can be a substitute.
It depends on the school. At mine all major have to complete paid co-ops. I think my requirement was four quarters worth.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
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i had absolutely 0 relevant work for my field when i graduated. i had worked at a grocery store through highschool and college, and worked doing IT bullshit one summer. my degree was in computer science and my first job out of school was software engineering.
my pay was $48k, which I think was decent for fresh out of school, but i probably could have found a better first job had i had more experience in my field. now though, looking back, it didn't hinder my career, although i do feel i stayed at that job a little too long with out much of a pay increase.
i left after 5.5 years and was only making $62k. but i guess if i didn't stick it out there that long, i possibly wouldn't be where i am today with how everything unfolded, so i'm happy for it.
my pay was $48k, which I think was decent for fresh out of school, but i probably could have found a better first job had i had more experience in my field. now though, looking back, it didn't hinder my career, although i do feel i stayed at that job a little too long with out much of a pay increase.
i left after 5.5 years and was only making $62k. but i guess if i didn't stick it out there that long, i possibly wouldn't be where i am today with how everything unfolded, so i'm happy for it.
videogames101
Diamond Member
- Aug 24, 2005
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I graduated last year and had only one internship, which was during the summer after junior year. Zero trouble getting offers (EE grad), but then again I'm also a boss so YMMV.
I wonder if that is different today. Finding an engineering job with zero experience right after graduation is probably really tough today.
Cappuccino
Diamond Member
- Feb 27, 2013
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Must have at least grade 2.2, if you get 3rd you wasted your degree imo. Honestly, it doesn't really matter. Even if you come out only knowing the basics in your degree you are fine, the *work* itself will teach you. Especially in engineering.
Cappuccino
Diamond Member
- Feb 27, 2013
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wow $48k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm happy with £15k when I graduate if I'm lucky.
Having experience before you graduate can be the difference between getting a job at graduation and getting a job you really like. With engineering you probably won't have much trouble finding a job at graduation, but it's probably not going to be enjoyable since it will be super entry level.
I'll be graduating in May with my bachelors in aerospace engineering, don't have a great GPA (2.866 overall, 3.014 major). I've been working an internship for the last 3 years at a small local aerospace company. I just accepted an offer with Lockheed Martin as a systems integration/test engineer with the GPSIII program making $65,500 a year...
I'll be graduating in May with my bachelors in aerospace engineering, don't have a great GPA (2.866 overall, 3.014 major). I've been working an internship for the last 3 years at a small local aerospace company. I just accepted an offer with Lockheed Martin as a systems integration/test engineer with the GPSIII program making $65,500 a year...
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Cappuccino
Diamond Member
- Feb 27, 2013
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What were the requirements for aerospace engineering? In Cambridge you need AAAA (quadruple star) in A levels. Is it the same in the US? Just wondering my friend is applying to aero something and he said its supa dupa hard. Also 65k just wow give me half of that and I'm happy with my life. D: gratz I bet you worked hard for it. Hard degree. Good job.
videogames101
Diamond Member
- Aug 24, 2005
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Eh, in the US there are plenty of Aero programs that are easy enough to get into. Insane test scores just get you a bigger bill and a more prestigious name on your diploma. (true of all US engineering programs actually)
In the US as long as you can pass the classes engineering doesn't have a huge barrier to entry.
Of course, passing the classes can be brutal.
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Where I go to school you only have to get accepted into the college of engineering then declare aerospace. Getting in isn't really the issue, it's staying in. My class started out at something like 130 people, that dropped to around 80 after somphmore year. Right now our graduating class is about 60, 37 of which are actually graduating and not continuing on with masters.
The ideal is that you should have a full time internship every summer, and part time ones during the school year. You can come into the workforce claiming degree + a few years of experience.
Fenixgoon
Lifer
- Jun 30, 2003
- 33,134
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i went to drexel, which i think is ranked 95th(?) in the US. it's pretty good. the other big engineering school with a co-op program is Georgia Tech (to which i also applied, oddly enough). both very good schools.
Who has time to work during the semester? Between home work from non-major classes and never ending programming projects I didn't have time.
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