Internships

Internships provide valuable hands-on training, broaden your view of engineering career options in industry, introduce you to an exciting network of people, and are a primary pathway to full-time employment upon graduation.

熊猫在线视频 engineering students typically participate in at least one engineering internship before they graduate. These internships are valuable learning experiences that integrate skills gained from coursework with real world applications. The Hope College Boerigter Center for Calling and Career helps students through the process of seeking and obtaining internship positions and offers a listing of locally available internships each year.

Career & Internship Preparation

Preparation for your future career is an exciting multi-year process that can begin even in your first year at Hope. Below are suggestions for steps you can take each year to help you learn about engineering careers and obtain internships.

Year One

Begin drafting a r茅sum茅 and visit the Boerigter Center for advice
Talk to an engineering professor about career paths
Complete a Handshake account
Consider applying for a DiscoverWork job shadowing opportunity (mid-fall application deadline)
Consider speaking with an engineering professor about summer research experiences at Hope
Get involved with related clubs and organizations at Hope:
- Engineers Without Borders
- Society of Women Engineers
- 熊猫在线视频 Formula Racing
- United Society of Diverse Engineers

Year Two

Meet with your academic advisor and the Boerigter Center staff early in the fall semester to discuss your interests and possible career paths
Further develop your r茅sum茅 (typically this will be part of an assignment in ENGS 220 Statics)
Learn how to prepare a cover letter
Begin to network by attending Friday seminars and talking with the speakers afterward
Network and explore by applying for the DiscoverWork job shadowing program (mid-fall application deadline)
Begin researching and applying for internship opportunities
Attend a career fair at Hope, Calvin or GVSU (the Boerigter Center can help you prepare)

Year Three

Create a LinkedIn account for networking, internships and job searches
Research and apply for internships beginning at the end of August
Attend one or more career fairs at Hope, Calvin or GVSU
Utilize the Boerigter Center and Handshake to prepare for interviews, as well as finalize your r茅sum茅 and applications
Visit Handshake often for on-campus career and interviewing opportunites
Attend the career fairs at Hope, Calvin or GVSU

Year Four

Work with the Boerigter Center and your academic advisor to develop an effective plan for your job search strategy or graduate school application
Attend the career fairs at Hope, Calvin or GVSU
Complete an in-person or electronic mock interview through the Boerigter Center (typically this will be an assignment in ENGS 451 Introduction to Engineering Design)
Focus on alumni networking by using the Boerigter Center's Career Resource Network and learning about Hope's Alumni Association

Fall Recruiting Fair

Each fall the Boerigter Center hosts a recruiting fair for engineering students and other majors. The fair typically occurs in early October.

Students and Employers: Register on Handshake

Additional Information

Kinds of internships

Hope Students participate in a variety of internships and research experiences. Below is a partial list of companies that employed Hope engineering students during the past year.

Gentex
LG Chem
Disher
Ganthier Biomedical
Bose North America
SoundOff Signal
Honeywell
Eli Lily
Lear Corporation
Magna Glass
Trinseo
Consumers Energy
Tiara Yachts
Carus Corporation
Innotec
General Atomics
Spectrum Health
Ascent Aerospace
Clarios
SAF Holland
Ce茅ntauri Corporation
H.B. Fuller

Does Engineering have a co-op program?

Hope engineering does not have an official co-op program. Interested students should contact Matthew Smith (msmith@hope.edu) or an engineering faculty advisor. There are options for rearranging course schedules to make a semster long co-op possible, but early planning is crucial.

Preparing a cover letter, r茅sum茅 or similar document

All Hope engineering students must prepare a r茅sum茅, normally as part of their second-year course sequence. The Boerigter Center also maintains a list of several helpful how-to guides related to the job search process.

Working part time during the year as an engineering intern

Yes, several local companies are often interested in hiring students to work part time during the school year. There may also be options for rearranging your course schedule to make it easier to work part time. See your engineering faculty advisor or contact Matthew Smith (msmith@hope.edu) to explore opportunities.