What do you do if you want to secure a competitive internship as a mechanical engineering student?

As a Graduate Mechanical Engineer, you must have some software skills and some soft skill to get a good internship. Software skill must be 1. Microsoft excel. You shouldn’t be a pro. But you have efficiency on this. 2. Same goes for PowerPoint. For showcasing your works PowerPoint is the best (sometimes only) way to present. 3. AutoCAD or Solid works. As a Mechanical Engineer, you must know the designs. You have to know the designs. Not all the jobs required software skill (CAD/Solid works) but knowing the hand drawing is must. For Soft Skills: 1. Team Work 2. Leadership 3. Problem Solving Mindset 4. Attention details 5. Communication 6. Professional Relation Buildup Ability These are must.

Polish your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences. Network with professionals in the industry through career fairs, LinkedIn, and alumni connections. Gain practical experience through projects, research, or extracurricular activities. Prepare for interviews by practicing technical and behavioral questions. Tailor your applications to each company, showcasing how your skills align with their needs.

Networking is one of the best ways to get noticed. A simple recommendation or referral can get you one step closer to your desired position. Networking can be done virtually on social media like LinkedIn, forum, group email or in person like during conferences. If you are joining a conference, research on the attendee/company and don't hesitate to initiate a conversation with them. One of the best ways is to go and participate in the after hour program, dinner, tour.

Networking is the Key. You must know the people, should know the Industry Leader. 1. Attend the University Job fair from your second year. Collect the HR's LinkedIn and mail and if possible phone number. 2. Contact with them through some events like Eid Vaccations and others big eventa. 3. After your graduations let them know that you are ready. 4. If any vaccancy arises in the mean time, grab the chance. Connecting to recruiters increases the rate of chances to get invited for the viva. That's enough. Rest is your job. 5. Connect you University alma mater and approach them like the same way you did with the HR's. Social Media and LinkedIn is the key. Use them perfectly.

First impression is the best impression. And your resume is your first impression. Make it blast. 1. Recruiters attracts to quantitative analysis. Show how you did in your last 22/23 (just saying) years in a quantitave measures. 2. Show your technical skills. Show your AutoCAD, Solid Works experience. Show your research ability and problem solving mindset. 3. Show you Leadership and Organizational capability. Give input the numbers- how many programs you organized, how many people you managed and how many lives were changed through your positive activities. 4. Use some BUZZ words, according to your job preferences and recruitment circular. 5. Give reference from your industry who can verify you.

Preparing for your interview is extremely important. My mentors used to always say “They aren’t hiring the paper they’re hiring the person”. You can have a phenomenal resume and a arsenal of industry skills, but if you can’t apply yourself in a face to face interview, you won’t get far. You should be treating your preparation the same as preparing for an exam in engineering school. Study the firm, study the interviewer, know your résumé, have a handful for stories ready that can answer multiple different scenario based questions. Be able to walk into your interview confident that there is nothing they can ask you that you can’t answer.