Six Gonzaga School of Engineering & Applied Science students shared their internship experiences at the January 22 meeting of the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
Almost three dozen students enjoyed a pizza lunch while getting valuable advice on finding a company to intern for and how to make an application stand out.
Speakers were (left to right) Isabella Verdugo, Coral Ng, Ellie Libby, Caroline Sonnen, Mehak Bharagava, and Kylie Muntean. The panelists represented many of SEAS’s disciplines.
“Keep applying, keep reaching out,” said Isabella Verdugo, a junior mechanical engineering student who interned at Novelis Solatens Technology Center in Spokane Valley. “Don’t get discouraged.”
She said that it’s crucial to go through the internship position description, note keywords and phrases and echo those exactly in the cover letter and resume.
“Don’t have a generic resume, personalize it with the same words they used. If they write ‘problem-solving,’ don’t write about ‘solving problems.’ And make sure you write in the correct company name each time!” Verdugo said.
Kylie Muntean, SWE vice president and mechanical engineering senior, echoed that advice to personalize. “My cover letter is more of a template. At least one or two sentences in the cover letter are specific for the company and the position.” She told her story of researching companies and pursuing the one she liked best to the point of emailing employees she found through LinkedIn. “It’s not easy,” she warned, but says she eventually got a full-time internship offer.
SWE Vice President Kylie Muntean began the monthly meeting asking club members to consider taking a leadership role for the coming summer and academic year.
Caroline Sonnen, studying computer science, talked about Microsoft’s well-known interview technique of asking hypothetical questions to see how an interviewee thinks. “Go ahead and take your time,” Sonnen advised. “Take a couple of minutes to think first so you don’t ramble. It’s the thought process they want to know about. They know you can always learn the technicals.” She also suggested interviewees prepare a few questions to ask at the end of the interview. “It shows your interest in them, that’s important.”
Coral Ng, a civil engineering student with internships at BESThq and Probity Builders in Beaverton, suggested that a brief list of hobbies and strong personal interests can have a place on a resume. “People hire those who share the same interests,” she said, referring to published research on hiring practices. “If they can relate to you, they’re more likely to hire you.”
Ellie Libby, civil engineering senior, acknowledged that positions with the U.S. government, such as hers with the Bureau of Land Management, require background checks and tedious paperwork. She said it’s worth it, since those federal internships through the Pathways Program usually lead to a permanent job in federal civil service after graduation.
Computer engineering student Mehak Bharagava reminded students to remain flexible during an internship. Although she said she was recruited by the Pitney Bowes office in Spokane on the basis of her C++ programming skills, within a few weeks they had her learning and using Java.
The panelists agreed that one of Gonzaga’s best campus resources for internship seekers is Career & Professional Development, and the Handshake online system.
After the event, club officers Mehak Bharagava and Kylie Muntean answered questions about SWE.