Internships are professional work experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to your field of study or career interest. Internships help you protoype or try on different career experiences to determine what you like and what you do not. They are defined as one-semester work experiences, however companies may offer an opportunity to return for a future semester.
Internships can take place during a fall or spring semester, but typically take place during the summer. You are eligible to intern as early as the summer after your freshman year, although some employers may prefer students who have completed more depth in coursework.
Have you secured an internship for a future semester?
The CDCR supports the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards on internships. These standards state that internships need to meet specific criteria to ensure compliance with the United States Department of Labor and Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA).
Internship experiences provides a variety of tangible and intangible benefits, some of which include:
Internship application deadlines vary, often depending on specific industry areas and organization types. It is best to identify potential organizations of interest early in the fall semester to determine where the deadline might fall and proceed accordingly.
This timeline shows typical ranges in which to expect internship postings and application deadlines within engineering industry areas. Also keep in mind:
This timeline outlines a typical on-campus recruiting schedule for each academic year.
Early September |
Recruitment activity begins
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September |
Peak volume for on-campus recruiting events
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October |
High-volume on-campus recruiting activity continues
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November |
Reduced on-campus recruiting activity
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December |
No on-campus recruiting activities
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January - February |
High volume for on-campus recruiting events
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March - April |
On-campus recruiting continues, typically for "just-in-time" hiring
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REGISTER FOR InternReady
InternReady is an interactive Canvas course developed to guide you through the internship search process. It includes short, self-paced modules on topics including resumes, career fair preparation, internship search tools, and more. Each module is assigned to a deadline that will help you keep your internship search on track for the engineering industries recruiting timeline.
Open to all Engineering students.
ATTEND A LAUNCH YOUR ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP GROUP COACHING WORKSHOP
Work with an Engineering Career Coach and other engineering students to clarify your search goals, simplify your online search efforts, and improve search results. Topics include effective Handshake job searches, leveraging LinkedIn for internship searches, utilizing CareerShift, and techniques to connect with engineering alumni.
MEET WITH AN ENGINEERING CAREER COACH
WHERE TO SEARCH
Target your internship search by identifying criteria for your search. Consider focusing on a particular industry, position type, and/or location. This will help you effectively market yourself to the specific employers you're interested in. Focus on nore more than 10 - 15 organizations at one time.
Search Tools, Resources, and Events
Featured Jobs + Internships
Hint: Make sure you login to Handshake to view opportunities featured by CDCR!
2. ENROLL IN THE ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP COURSE, ENGR 3920 (undergraduate) or 7920 (graduate). Enroll for the semester in which you will be completing your internship - fall, spring, or summer. ENGR 3920 is a 0-credit hour, $0-fee course that documents your internship experience on your transcript.
Benefits of ENGR 3920 and 7920
Topics Covered in ENGR 3920 and 7920
3. CELEBRATE AT SignENG DAY. Once you report your internship, we also hope you will celebrate with us at the upcoming SignENG Day event, which takes place during Engineering Spirit Week each semester. Make sure to see event details and register.
STEPS TO OBTAIN WORK AUTHORIZATION
WHEN SHOULD I ACCEPT THE INTERNSHIP OFFER?
The Office of International Students and Scholars Services cannot process your CPT application until after your enrollment in ENGR 3920. If ever in doubt about the timing of your internship offer acceptance, meet with an Engineering Career Coach to strategize your plan. In all circumstances, make sure you do not complete any hire paperwork or company orientation until after your CPT application is processed and approved.
DO I NEED TO BE ENROLLED IN CLASSES DURING MY INTERNSHIP?
Fall and Spring Semesters