7 answers
Addison
Student
Albany, Louisiana
1
Question
Updated
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How should I go about getting an internship during college? #fall25
I am going to be a freshman in college coming up and I am concerned about getting internship opportunities. I am going to school to be a chemical engineer, and I am unsure on how to go about internships. Is it better to reach out to companies myself or should I wait until companies get in contact with me?
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7 answers
Agata Halford-White
Sr. Product Manager - Services Gloabal Portfolio
13
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Agata’s Answer
I attended a Career Fair organized by my college, and it was incredibly helpful. There are many other fairs like this out there too. Make sure to come prepared to make a great first impression, and you'll likely get a call back. I strongly encourage you to go!
Kelly Bentz
Human Resources Director
4
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Great job on wanting to get involved early in college! Start by joining clubs or organizations related to your field of interest. They often host guest speakers and share tips for getting internships. Next, visit your school's career center, either online or in person, to learn about opportunities in your field. Finally, attend a career fair, whether virtual or on campus. It's a good chance to introduce yourself and ask about internship timing. Even as a freshman, you can start networking and building connections. Good luck!
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
517
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Getting an internship as a college student starts with mastering your coursework and demonstrating interest through projects, lab work, research, volunteering, or shadowing professionals in the field. Networking is essential, so connect with alumni, professors, and industry professionals on LinkedIn or Glassdoor. You can also gain practical skills through virtual experiences on platforms like Forage, Chegg Internships, Coursera, edX, MIT OpenCourseWare, Labster, or Practical Engineering Projects. For chemical-engineering-specific opportunities, consider the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) career center, The Intern Group, Internshala, Confidite, and WayUp, which offer remote or global internships to build relevant experience even before securing in-person positions.
Tailor your resume and cover letters to highlight skills, projects, volunteer work, shadowing experiences, or student organization involvement, as employers value initiative and the ability to learn quickly. Starting early is key, and by combining preparation, networking, volunteering, shadowing, and virtual or in-person opportunities, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing meaningful chemical-engineering internships.
Tailor your resume and cover letters to highlight skills, projects, volunteer work, shadowing experiences, or student organization involvement, as employers value initiative and the ability to learn quickly. Starting early is key, and by combining preparation, networking, volunteering, shadowing, and virtual or in-person opportunities, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing meaningful chemical-engineering internships.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Addison. It's often better to take the initiative and reach out to potential employers yourself. Many companies have formal internship programs, but they can be competitive, so don't be afraid to contact them directly. Even if there isn't a posted internship opportunity, you may send an email to their HR or internship coordinator and express your interest in gaining experience. You don't need to have years of experience already as companies often look for students who are eager to learn and show enthusiasm for the field.
Your school will also be a huge help in finding internship opportunities. Most colleges have a career center where you can get support in finding jobs and internships. They can help you improve your resume, prepare for interviews, and even connect you with companies that are looking for students to hire. Make sure to attend career fairs, where companies often come to recruit students for internships. Even if you're just starting your first year, it's helpful to meet recruiters and learn about the types of positions they offer.
Don't forget to take advantage of online job platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. These websites allow you to search for internships, apply directly, and connect with professionals in your field. Keep your LinkedIn profile updated with your skills and interests, and feel free to reach out to people working in the industry for advice or connections. Sometimes, opportunities come from building relationships rather than just applying for listed positions. Good luck.
Your school will also be a huge help in finding internship opportunities. Most colleges have a career center where you can get support in finding jobs and internships. They can help you improve your resume, prepare for interviews, and even connect you with companies that are looking for students to hire. Make sure to attend career fairs, where companies often come to recruit students for internships. Even if you're just starting your first year, it's helpful to meet recruiters and learn about the types of positions they offer.
Don't forget to take advantage of online job platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. These websites allow you to search for internships, apply directly, and connect with professionals in your field. Keep your LinkedIn profile updated with your skills and interests, and feel free to reach out to people working in the industry for advice or connections. Sometimes, opportunities come from building relationships rather than just applying for listed positions. Good luck.
Dustin Leszcynski
Talent Acquisition
6
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Dustin’s Answer
You're doing great by focusing on this in your first year of college!
While there might be fewer opportunities for freshmen, don't let that stop you. Keep researching, connecting, and networking in your areas of interest. Try reaching out to smaller companies or non-profits first. As you gain experience, you can look into larger companies for internships.
Make the most of your school's Career Services. They're there to help you find internships and job opportunities. Also, talk to your professors—they often have industry connections that can be helpful.
Joining student clubs or organizations is another excellent way to expand your network and learn more about your field. You might even discover opportunities you hadn't considered.
Stay creative and determined. With effort, you can find a great opportunity, even as a freshman!
While there might be fewer opportunities for freshmen, don't let that stop you. Keep researching, connecting, and networking in your areas of interest. Try reaching out to smaller companies or non-profits first. As you gain experience, you can look into larger companies for internships.
Make the most of your school's Career Services. They're there to help you find internships and job opportunities. Also, talk to your professors—they often have industry connections that can be helpful.
Joining student clubs or organizations is another excellent way to expand your network and learn more about your field. You might even discover opportunities you hadn't considered.
Stay creative and determined. With effort, you can find a great opportunity, even as a freshman!
Nicolás Barake
7
Answers
Updated
Nicolás’s Answer
I’d recommend checking out any internship counseling services your college offers, as well as attending career fairs. Start by focusing on a few key steps:
1. Think about which cities or countries you’d like to experience.
2. Explore the universities available through your college’s internship programs and identify which ones best match your expectations and academic interests.
Apply to the 2–3 options that align best with both criteria—and you’ll be set. Good luck with your internship search!
1. Think about which cities or countries you’d like to experience.
2. Explore the universities available through your college’s internship programs and identify which ones best match your expectations and academic interests.
Apply to the 2–3 options that align best with both criteria—and you’ll be set. Good luck with your internship search!
Sandeep Khandelwal
Software Engineer
50
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
Hello Addison,
It's great you're thinking about internships before even starting college. This proactive attitude will serve you well in Chemical Engineering!
As a freshman, formal internships are rare, so your priority should be building a strong foundation. You can seek out a professor's lab for research assistance, or take a job that highlights skills like teamwork and problem-solving. This on-campus involvement makes you a much stronger candidate later.
When considering whether to wait or reach out, you must always take the initiative. Never wait for companies to find you. As a freshman, start with informational interviews and connect with engineers you admire to learn about their careers and company culture. Once you hit your sophomore year, use this built network and experience to aggressively apply for formal internships through career services and company websites.
It's great you're thinking about internships before even starting college. This proactive attitude will serve you well in Chemical Engineering!
As a freshman, formal internships are rare, so your priority should be building a strong foundation. You can seek out a professor's lab for research assistance, or take a job that highlights skills like teamwork and problem-solving. This on-campus involvement makes you a much stronger candidate later.
When considering whether to wait or reach out, you must always take the initiative. Never wait for companies to find you. As a freshman, start with informational interviews and connect with engineers you admire to learn about their careers and company culture. Once you hit your sophomore year, use this built network and experience to aggressively apply for formal internships through career services and company websites.
Thank you for the advice.
Addison