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What advice do you have for college students to get engineering, specifically robotics and mechanical engineering, related internships or first jobs?

I am about to start college and want to know how to prepare myself best to get internships and a job in the engineering field.

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Robert’s Answer

You are unlikely to land an internship/mentorship opportunity in your first year of college. Look for a summer job or volunteer role that involves mechanicals or robotics, though, it will help you going forward! It might be working in an auto shop, helping a lawn care or ag field service company with irrigation equipment, or teaching (kids probably) a robot programming class. The closer to your interests, the better. As others have said, if robotics is a priority then coding experience/familiarity will also be a big help (but not essential - I fix a lot of robots without knowing anything about their code, I know actuators and capacitors and reed switches).
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

Hey,

If you're aiming for a robotics or mechanical engineering internship or job, you're on an exciting path! Start by building a strong foundation in key areas like control systems, kinematics, and artificial intelligence. Get familiar with industry tools like MATLAB, SolidWorks, Python, C++, and Robot Operating System (ROS). Dive into hands-on projects, join university labs, or participate in competitions like FIRST Robotics, VEX, and hackathons. Even unpaid roles or volunteering at places like iRobot, Boston Dynamics, or startups can give you valuable experience.

Reach out and connect with professors, alumni, and professionals on LinkedIn and at university events. Tailor your resume to highlight your technical skills and project experience, and get ready for both technical and behavioral interviews. Explore opportunities on platforms like Handshake, AngelList, WayUp, LinkedIn Jobs, and Built In. Look into programs like NASA Internships, Google Summer of Code, and MIT’s UROP. Keep learning with resources like Coursera, edX, Udacity, MIT OpenCourseWare, and Udemy. Enhance your portfolio by contributing to open-source projects on GitHub or Hackster.io. Stay engaged with the field by joining communities like r/robotics on Reddit, Stack Exchange, and IEEE forums. Keep up with industry trends through sites like IEEE Spectrum, TechCrunch Robotics, and Robotics Business Review.

Remember, every step you take—whether it's learning a new tool, building a project, or making a new connection—brings you closer to standing out in this exciting field. Your passion for robotics or mechanical engineering can become a rewarding career. You've got this!
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Emer’s Answer

Hey Kaylee, you're on the right track and doing great! Here are some tips to help you land internships or your first job in robotics and mechanical engineering. Focus on mastering key skills like CAD design, programming (Python, MATLAB, or C++), and simulation tools. Try playing around with hardware like Arduino or Raspberry Pi—they're super useful.

Build a portfolio full of hands-on projects, like creating a robot, designing mechanical systems, or coding automation processes. Showing real achievements will make you stand out!

Attend industry events like hackathons, expos, or robotics competitions. They're awesome for meeting professionals and finding exciting opportunities. Also, make sure to use LinkedIn! Connect with alumni, professors, and industry experts—it’s a great way to get advice or find mentors.

On campus, join robotics clubs or engineering societies like ASME or IEEE. They offer great resources, internships, and chances to work on cool projects. You could also volunteer for engineering competitions like Formula SAE or FIRST Robotics—these experiences are great conversation starters in interviews.

Good luck! You’ve got this!
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