Current Students
Employment Opportunities
Co-ops and Internships
What are they?
Both co-ops and internships are short-term jobs for students. An internship is a three month position that is held during the summer. A co-op is a 6-8 month (multiple term) commitment. One of these terms would be during the Spring/Summer term, along with either a Fall or Winter term. These terms do not have to be back-to-back, although they usually are.
Co-ops usually include at least two working terms. Since you would be working during a school semester, a co-op would set you back one semester for graduation.
Co-ops are generally easier to get than internships because there are fewer students looking for co-ops. Co-ops do require a 2.5+ GPA, and you generally need 45 credits hours to be considered. You also need to have completed your basic math and science courses.
Obtaining an internship or co-op is one of the best things you can do to help you get a good permanent job when you graduate. Both provide very good experience that employers value, and will give you something of importance to discuss in future interviews. You will get an idea of how a company works (especially for the longer running co-op assignments), and you will be able to apply all the theory you have been learning to real-world situations.
Finally, the pay is pretty good! Both positions pay in the area of $10-$20/hour, depending on your age, experience, and the company.
How do you get a Co-op or Internship?
Register with the Engineering Career Resource Center (ECRC) in the Chrysler building. The ECRC Website can be found at:
Another valuable resource to help you in your job search is the Society of Women in Engineering (SWE) & Tau Beta Pi (TBP) Career Fair that is held every year in late September/early October. The Career Fair is a great chance to spread your resume around and get used to talking to employers.
In addition, keep your eyes open because fliers are often posted to announce when companies are coming into town, and many of them have "pre-interview" (PI) sessions where you can learn about the company and talk to recruiters. The dates and times of PI sessions are often sent over email, as well.
Finally, if you "know someone who knows someone", take advantage of it! This may be a friend getting you an interview, or giving you the name of someone to talk to about setting up an interview. NETWORKING is important! If you can get a person's name, you should send your resume to that person, and always include a short cover letter describing who you are and why you are writing to them.
Timelines for getting a Co-op or Internship
Once you decide that you want a co-op or internship, you want to get your name out to potential employers as soon as possible. Companies start hiring co-op students around sophomore year. Co-op assignments are available to students at any time of the year.
For internships, you should try to get one as early in your education as you can because the experience you gain will help you get other future internships and future jobs.
Some companies begin hiring students after their Freshman year, but most wait until after Sophomore or Junior year. You should make it your goal to have your first internship by the summer after your Sophomore year (of course, earlier is better!).
Once you decide you want an internship, you need to start interviewing. Companies hire all year round, starting at the beginning of Fall semester. The SWE & TBP Career Fair in late September/early October is a good place to get started, and it forces you to get your resume ready and start talking to employers. The ECRC can help you put together a professional resume to distribute to companies that interest you.
Some companies start interviewing as early as October, and others don't start until late February or March. It's a year-long process and the sooner you get in the game, the better your chances!
Plan to interview with as many companies as possible that interest you. This is a chance for you to learn more about what you like, and for companies to see if you are the kind of person they want to hire full time. Don't panic if it's March and you still have not heard from anyone. Just keep getting your name out there because companies will hire up to the last minute. You may just have to work a little harder.
Most internships start right after school ends. Some companies have plans where you work a specified number of weeks during the summer, and others are very flexible. These are all questions for you to ask during your interviews.