Landing an Internship

Summer Internship in 
Arizona with Intel

Hi Ladies!

First, I would like to congratulate all of you on your acceptance to Penn State and into the College of Engineering.  You should all be excited for this amazing journey ahead!  When I was an incoming freshman, I wasn’t aware of all the opportunities engineers have, and I would like to share one of those with you to give you a jump start on shaping your future.  This incredible opportunity I’m referring to is the chance to gain real world experience through an internship.

                I know you’re probably thinking, “Internship?  I haven’t even started college yet.”  Although this is true, becoming an intern isn’t out of your reach.  A bunch of my friends found internship positions after their freshman year, and I regret not looking into getting one at the time because they are an important part of the engineering college experience.  By the time you are a senior and seeking a full-time job, employers are going to be looking for the candidates who are not only outstanding students, but also those who have stepped up and applied their knowledge during an internship or co-op.  Co-op is probably not a term with which you are familiar.  A co-op is a longer internship, typically around 6 months.  They are a great opportunity to make a huge impact at a company.  I co-oped for Johnson & Johnson from June 2011 to December 2011.  I am currently working as a summer intern at Intel Corporation.  These are the things YOU will have an opportunity to do!  Not only will you gain valuable work experience and build your resume, you will also make new friends, network with professionals, and get paid.  What’s not to love about this?! 

                If this sounds like something you want to do, I have a few tips for you.  Attend the fall career fair and networking receptions.  You’ll have your first opportunity to do this at the WEPO career dinner so you’ll already be a step ahead!  Some companies accept freshmen and others do not.  Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have luck in the fall.  There is an engineering specific career fair in the spring where many freshmen are accepted for internship positions.  Another way to get an internship would be to call local companies around you and ask if they would accept an intern for the summer.  Many smaller companies would be thrilled to bring you aboard even if they’ve never had an intern work for them, and the experience will be well worth the search.

                Get excited, ladies!  Live these next few years to the fullest and take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.  You won’t regret it.  I look forward to meeting you at WEPO ’12!

Fawn Romanko is a senior in Industrial Engineering. This summer  she is interning with Intel in Phoenix, AZ. Fawn is a mentor for WEPO '12.