Internships, Internships, Internships: The best way in
Now that we have discussed getting the schooling out of the way, and we know what writing is going to be like in the mechanical engineering field; I want to take the rest of the time to talk about the best things to do to help prepare you for a career in mechanical engineering, once you finish the necessary schoolwork.
Internships: yes, they are important. According to a phone interview with Paul Greenwood, a consulting mechanical engineer in the Salt Lake area, mechanical engineers who come into the field with experience not only find jobs faster, but these experienced workers will also earn 30% more, on average, than those who did not work internships, or obtained the job experience in some other way. (Personal correspondence with Paul Greenwood, September 2009) Internships, and job experience overall, will be the difference between getting the $45,000 dollar a year job as the junior engineer, and the $60,000 a year job as the guy who can work, without having to be babysat by a chief engineer, or someone with vastly greater amounts of experience and knowledge.
For the standard, run of the mill internship, you may have to wait until you are at your university, in the engineering department, and have a few engineering classes under your belt. According to Katrina Green, the Academic Adviser to the Engineering Department at Salt Lake Community College, internships are typically not given until you are a junior at the university level. Companies looking for interns also want some of the key classes completed, like statics and strengths, math, and physics classes (Personal correspondence with Katrina Green, September 2009). This means, you will need to be patient if you want to do an internship. If you would like, you can pursue internships away from the school, but it does require a little more work.
I have found a couple of places that will allow you work as an intern, gaining that valuable work experience. I will not divulge the specific location, but will give pointers as to what you can do. First, ask people you know, if you can work at a job that has engineers on site. As it turned out for me, my dad works for a company that manufactures carbon fiber components. I can work there, as a paid employee, and gain the knowledge of working with the chief mechanical engineer on site, who builds prototypes, and tests existing products. I have also called engineering firms in the Salt Lake Area, who are always willing to take on interns, and junior employees. If you are willing to work for free, most companies are willing to have you there. It never hurts to get a list, and start cold-calling businesses, if you are that interested in getting an internship. Another way you can get job industry experience is to join the military. Some may not like this idea, but in addition to the job experience, Uncle Sam will also pay for your tuition. You are also guaranteed a job, going in, assuming you can compete with the other recruits.
In short, if you have the ability and opportunity to get job experience prior to a baccalaureate degree, do everything you can to get the experience first, or at least concurrently. It will be greatly beneficial in the end.
Internships: yes, they are important. According to a phone interview with Paul Greenwood, a consulting mechanical engineer in the Salt Lake area, mechanical engineers who come into the field with experience not only find jobs faster, but these experienced workers will also earn 30% more, on average, than those who did not work internships, or obtained the job experience in some other way. (Personal correspondence with Paul Greenwood, September 2009) Internships, and job experience overall, will be the difference between getting the $45,000 dollar a year job as the junior engineer, and the $60,000 a year job as the guy who can work, without having to be babysat by a chief engineer, or someone with vastly greater amounts of experience and knowledge.
For the standard, run of the mill internship, you may have to wait until you are at your university, in the engineering department, and have a few engineering classes under your belt. According to Katrina Green, the Academic Adviser to the Engineering Department at Salt Lake Community College, internships are typically not given until you are a junior at the university level. Companies looking for interns also want some of the key classes completed, like statics and strengths, math, and physics classes (Personal correspondence with Katrina Green, September 2009). This means, you will need to be patient if you want to do an internship. If you would like, you can pursue internships away from the school, but it does require a little more work.
I have found a couple of places that will allow you work as an intern, gaining that valuable work experience. I will not divulge the specific location, but will give pointers as to what you can do. First, ask people you know, if you can work at a job that has engineers on site. As it turned out for me, my dad works for a company that manufactures carbon fiber components. I can work there, as a paid employee, and gain the knowledge of working with the chief mechanical engineer on site, who builds prototypes, and tests existing products. I have also called engineering firms in the Salt Lake Area, who are always willing to take on interns, and junior employees. If you are willing to work for free, most companies are willing to have you there. It never hurts to get a list, and start cold-calling businesses, if you are that interested in getting an internship. Another way you can get job industry experience is to join the military. Some may not like this idea, but in addition to the job experience, Uncle Sam will also pay for your tuition. You are also guaranteed a job, going in, assuming you can compete with the other recruits.
In short, if you have the ability and opportunity to get job experience prior to a baccalaureate degree, do everything you can to get the experience first, or at least concurrently. It will be greatly beneficial in the end.
