8 Tips to Land an Engineering or Architecture Internship

Career fairs and information sessions can be excellent starting points for making connections and learning more about companies first-hand. Before going to the session, review the list of attending employers published by the career center, organizer, or event sponsor and research the ones that seem like a good fit.

In particular, I recommend:

• Checking for alignment of their values with your own.
• Seeing if their culture matches your expectations.
• Learning about the markets they serve and the solutions they provide.
• Reviewing their projects to get a sense of the work you could be doing.
• Seeing where they have physical offices.

When you come to the company’s booth or session knowing who they are, where they are, and what they do, it allows us, as the company representatives, to have a more in-depth conversation with you. Plus, it shows us that you’re prepared and interested.

This tip may seem obvious, but it’s crucial your resume reflects your degree program, areas of focus, and anticipated graduation date accurately. As a leading architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firm, we typically look for candidates pursuing the following degree programs:

We meet many students and receive a lot of resumes and applications, but your personal elevator pitch can help you stand out from the crowd. Figure out what sets you apart from other potential candidates and use this information to communicate why you’re a good fit. Think about:

• Who you are.
• What you’re looking for in an internship.
• What you can bring to the table that is a good match for the employer.

Also, take time to think about your career path. We aim to find an intern who can excel in a summer internship but then return or transition to full-time employment. We understand you probably won’t know what you want your career path to look like from initial hire to retirement, but having a starting point helps us know that you want to grow your career with us.

Relevant work or other internship experience isn’t a requirement to land an internship at Gannett Fleming. However, hiring managers usually prefer to see some level of experience showing you have technical knowledge and skills in areas like leadership. Tailor your resume and elevator pitch to highlight your involvement in professional associations, industry organizations, or community service, especially if you hold leadership roles. You can also highlight capstone projects and classes applicable to the internship.

I find most students wait to create a LinkedIn profile until they’re about to graduate, but creating one before you start your internship journey is ideal. Having a LinkedIn profile allows you to connect with and follow recruiters, thought leaders, and companies in your field or discipline and gives you another tool to market yourself within the social media landscape. You can lend your voice to relevant conversations, share your own posts, and join groups to stay current on the latest trends and topics.

Another platform to consider joining is Handshake. It allows candidates to create a profile and then helps them match with jobs and employers. Interns can also leave reviews about their experiences (hint: Gannett Fleming is on Handshake!).

Whether attending a career fair or interview in person or virtually, remember that first impressions are important! We have seen dress codes evolve in the COVID-19 era, so I usually recommend students opt for business casual over more formal business professional attire and choose clothing in which they feel comfortable and confident.

I love when candidates ask me questions! Remember: interviews are a two-way street; we get the chance to ask you questions to see if you’re a match for our culture and the role, and you get the opportunity to see if our company and the internship fit your expectations and goals. Ultimately, we want to bring on interns who will be happy working here and can see themselves coming on as full-time employees who stay for the long term.

After the career fair or interview, follow up via email with the company representative(s) you met (you can also use your new LinkedIn profile and ask them to connect!). It’s a good idea to thank them for their time and also express your interest in the company and internship opportunities. Additionally, you can attach your resume and ask if there’s anyone else at the company you can speak to for more information. If you don’t hear back immediately, try following up again in two weeks.