| Career fairs are great. I'm not sure how your school is (i'm transferring to CPP in the fall), but my current school has an entire Career Resource Center dedicated to helping people get internships. I know companies such as Boeing hire interns and co-ops each year to students in their third year or above with good GPA's. My boyfriend had an internship with them which turned into a full-time offer after he graduates.
Also, don't be afraid to work for a small company from your hometown or something. Often smaller companies let you do more of the "real work" than larger companies. That and you won't be as bogged down with the paperwork which often comes with larger companies. My first internship was with a small civil engineering firm (5 total employees) and it really rocked!
Talk to your prof's or the advisors for any engineering organizations you may be involved with. They may have some sort of connections. Or their own career fairs (our SWE has a special "Night with Industry" each year where you can meet recruiters from companies informally).
Go to career fair and meet the recruiters. Even if they don't want to give you an offer, they're likely to remember you later. Someday they may remember your name or face and want to hire you the second you walk up to their booth! (ok, a bit of an exaggeration there).
Wow. Long post. Sorry! |