A2X Consulting

Have you ever heard the expression “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” Finding an internship in civil engineering is like that. Obviously, what you know is also important, but with civil engineering it is more about networking and making connections that can help you in the future. Use this simple guide to help you land the perfect civil engineering internship.

Step 1: Highlight all of your civil engineering experience in your resume.

Consider including relevant coursework, community programs, professional associations, and university groups or clubs related to engineering.

Step 2: Start looking for engineering internships.

Make a list of available internships and the companies where you would like to intern. Plan ahead. Most students start at least a semester in advance. That means that if you want to intern during the summer, you should start looking in December.

Step 3: Talk to a Civil Engineering Professor.

Civil engineering professors are a wealth of information. They can help you network in engineering circles and assist you in revising your resume.

Step 4: Talk to your university’s career center.

Most of the time, a career center counselor will be able to help you find an internship in any field. Plus, they should have information available about engineering job fairs.

Step 5: Consider joining a professional engineering association.

Engineering associations are a great way to network, create professional relationships, and learn of engineering events in the area.

Step 6: Attend engineering job fairs.

Even if you don’t think you qualify for any of the positions listed, a job fair is one of the best places to meet people who work in civil engineering. You never know when someone you meet at a job fair might be able to help you with an internship or a job in the future.

Step 7: Be Persistent.

It may be a frustrating process to find such an internship, but try to keep in mind that a civil engineering internship could be just the step to help you enter your desired field. Once you have an internship in this field, it will help you stand out among the other students looking for a civil engineering job.

Best of luck in your civil engineering internship search!

By Sara Beck. Sara is an expat who lives in Santiago, Chile and is studying for her MBA. Send her an email at sarabeck86@gmail.com.