Here are some basic tips to help you find an engineering internship.
1. Resume/CV and a cover letter. A good resume or CV is your first stepping stone into a company. Be sure to highlight all your engineering societies and extracurricular activities along with your prior job experience and relevant coursework. Under job experience, try to provide a few short statements highlighting your responsibilities. A good cover letter also helps, because this will most likely be read prior to your resume. Try to write a cover letter that stands out. Remember you might be the 120th person in an application pile of 500 other students.
2. Be knowledgeable about the company. When you arrive at an interview, you want to be able to talk shop. Know about the company, what services it provides, and what active projects it has going on. Also there is no harm in asking questions about the company to help you better understand what they do and what they expect out of you.
3. Have a 30-second “commercial” about yourself ready. Most likely, the first question an interviewer will ask is to tell them a little about yourself. Have a speech ready to go that includes your schooling, past work experience, and what you like or hope to achieve in the world of engineering.
4. Know the national salary average and what your work responsibilities will be. Be aware of the job you are applying for and what responsibilities come with it. Know the average salary for engineering interns and also state what kind of work or experience you hope to obtain from this internship.