Quality of Internship??

TheBadBadger

Recently I have began working as an intern in a Elec Engineering firm.

There are periods when i am kept busy (not often) but the majority of my time is spent trying to look busy and pass the working day. I have approached senior members of staff to delegate as much as they can but this seems to fade out.

I suppose my question is to fellow interns: How are you finding your "training" because id rather move on than waste my time.

godtabh

You are very limited in how useful you are to them.

If there is particular software/process/etc that would aid you in getting a "proper" job try and practice on them as much as possible.

For me it was autocad. I used it every day regardless if I had to and was decent with it. Also being aware of ISO 9001 procedures helped with a few job interviews as it showed i would need less hand holding when starting off as I was familiar working in such an environment

Nothingbetter2d

if your bored and cant find anything to do...ask your boss if they would like old paper drawings redrawn in digital format. You'd be surprised how many old tattered drawings they would have lying about.

David6330

I am a graduate mechanical engineer, doing 12 month paid internship at a heavy machinery company in the UK. Six months in I still go through phases where I am busy for periods and then lying idle trying to look busy at other times. The work I am doing can't really be planned, it just turns up.

I did get disillusioned in it for a while but stuck at it and worked hard. As a result I got offered a full time job in the company half way through my internship which I will be starting next month.

You get back what you put into your internship. Stick it out and it will pay off.

Nothingbetter2d

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

if your bored and cant find anything to do...ask your boss if they would like old paper drawings redrawn in digital format. You'd be surprised how many old tattered drawings they would have lying about.

+1 on this, it kept my sanity during my Co-op with no internet and before smartphones.

TheBadBadger

Thanks for all the advice.. Think il do a few courses while I'm doing the internship, knx, automation etc.. Need to stand out in this game!!

rob w

Hi,
Hope you dont mind be hijacking your thread, but im studying electrical services engineering at the moment and going to start looking for a summer internship soon, if i can find one! Any advice on where to start looking or who might take on undergraduates for the summer, either here or abroad?

Thanks

2011

TheBadBadger wrote: »

Recently I have began working as an intern in a Elec Engineering firm.

There are periods when i am kept busy (not often) but the majority of my time is spent trying to look busy and pass the working day. I have approached senior members of staff to delegate as much as they can but this seems to fade out.

I suppose my question is to fellow interns: How are you finding your "training" because id rather move on than waste my time.

I would think of it as more than "training". Your employer is almost certainly using the opportunity to see if you are a suitable candidate for full time employment.

I had a similar experience working for a consultancy. Although there were quite periods for me I used the time to find out how design issues were solved on various projects. I found it fascinating TBH.

Because I was always available to work and eager to get my teeth into something it resulted in a full time position once I graduated. I have not had a boring minute since.

Turbulent Bill

TheBadBadger wrote: »

Recently I have began working as an intern in a Elec Engineering firm.

There are periods when i am kept busy (not often) but the majority of my time is spent trying to look busy and pass the working day. I have approached senior members of staff to delegate as much as they can but this seems to fade out.

I suppose my question is to fellow interns: How are you finding your "training" because id rather move on than waste my time.

If you're doing a structured internship (rotations around different areas etc.) then there should be a programme to follow. However most interns are just thrown in, and I'm guessing you're one of these. As godtabh said you won't be much use to the engineers as your supervision will take longer than the task.

I'd look out for useful tasks and do some self-training. Boredom is common in internships, nothing to worry about.

random.stranger

I suggest you try to make work for yourself.

On my internship I slipped into a report that the end of one of the production lines appeared inefficient to me. Before I knew it I was questioned about possible improvements & given this as a small project.

As an intern you are going to be given jobs engineers don't want to do themselves or small projects that aren't going to shut down a line.

You probably need a supportive manager that believes in you & a project that requires a modest budget. But its worth a try.

A small project done well will leave a really good impression with your employer & you suggesting it will show initiative.

Hope this helps.