What if my internship isn't really that helpful?

[user101]

I have an internship with Lockheed Martin. The actual division of LM is interesting and something I'd like to do for the summer. However, when you apply for a job there, they interview you for a general intern position, in engineering. They know that I'm a computer engineering student... will they give me some type of work related to it?

I don't want them to give me some work in manufacturing engineering or anything, but rather something related to EE. Let's say they give me a "Systems engineering" type job... what affect will that have on me for a full-time job search, when I'm done? I've had one job already as a manufacturing process analyst intern at a company and that's what landed me an internship with LM. In my objective, I have it so it says that I'm interested in an EE/CompE internship.

 

[mr_coffee]

Its hard to say...The hard thing about Comp Eng if you don't have a Masters or PHD they won't let you touch hardware design from what I hear.

My professor who works with intel said a Masters is required to even start designing, a PhD is preferred in Comp Eng if you want to design hardware.

if you have a 4 year degree in Comp Eng you'll most likely be writing test benches in VHDL/verilog to test the designs.

My one friend at cisco and my other friend at verizon are comp eng and they had very sucky internships. They didn't have enough experience to do anything. So the one at cisco just ended up moving around big servers and doing trouble shooting.

The one at verizon did the same, the same type of job IST majors get lol.

So it all depends on the company. Let's hope it is a useful internship. Make sure at the interview you want to know what you'll be working on or what type of projects past comp eng students have worked on so you get a feel for what your getting yourself into.

 

[Mene]

I understand your concern about your internship not being helpful in terms of your career goals. It is important to make the most of any opportunity, especially when it comes to gaining experience in your field of interest.

Firstly, I would suggest speaking with your supervisor or mentor at Lockheed Martin about your specific interests and goals. They may be able to assign you to projects or tasks that align more closely with your desired field of computer engineering. It is also possible that they may not have any projects available in that specific area, but it is worth having a conversation to see if there are any options for you.

If you do end up working in a different area such as systems engineering, it is important to remember that any experience, even if it is not directly related to your field, is valuable. It can help you develop transferable skills and broaden your knowledge base, which can be beneficial in a job search. Additionally, having experience in multiple areas can make you a more well-rounded candidate and show your versatility and adaptability.

In terms of your full-time job search after your internship, I would recommend highlighting the skills and experience you gained during your time at Lockheed Martin, regardless of the specific job title or division. Employers are often looking for candidates who have a diverse range of experiences and can bring a unique perspective to their team.

Overall, it is important to make the most of any internship opportunity and to remain open-minded about the tasks and projects you may be assigned. Who knows, you may discover a new interest or skill that you didn't know you had. Keep in mind that internships are meant to be learning experiences and not every task may be directly related to your desired field, but they can still contribute to your overall growth and development as a professional.