Internships

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Internships Co-ops for UI ECE students -
Overview

• What is a Internship/Co-op?
• Why do a Internship/Co-op?
• Where have our UI ECE students had internships.
• What should I do?
• Important points.

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Internships Co-ops for UI ECE students -
Overview

• Can I get UI credits for it doing an
  internship/co-op?
• Acme Electronics doesnt recruit at UI. What can
  I do?
• Start your search ASAP!
• Questions?

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What is an Internship/Co-op?

• Co-op
• A traditional system where a student would
  alternate periods of work and school for the
  duration of the students undergraduate program.
  A typical program would include alternating 6
  months of work and 6 months of school.

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What is an Internship/Co-op?

• Internship
• A student works for a company for one or two
  periods.
• A typical period is a summer.
• Most of our students do internships.

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Why do a Internship/Co-op?

• Experience
• Can lead to future employment with the company
  providing the internship.
• Can help you come to terms with what youd would
  like to do or not like to do in your career.
• It looks good when applying for full time
  employment after graduation.
• for school

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Where have our UI ECE students had internships?

• Micron (Boise)
• Boeing (Seattle)
• AMI Semiconductor (Pocatello)
• Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL) in Pullman
• Potlach Corp. (Lewiston)

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Where have our UI ECE students had internships?

• Power Engineers (Haley, close to Sun Valley)
• Agilent (Spokane)
• INEEL
• AMD (Austin, Texas)
• Numerous small companies in the Northwest

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Where have our UI ECE students had internships?

• Right here at UI!
• In the form of an undergraduate research
  assistant
• Other universities
• NASA programs

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What should I do?

• Begin by registering at the UI Cooperative
  Education Office
• http//www.webs.uidaho.edu/cooped/
• Idaho Commons, Room 330

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What should I do?

• The UI Cooperative Education Office
• A liaison between students employers
• Many workshops offered
• Provides search strategies
• Review the Resource Library and Useful Links
  info provided at the web site in the students
  section.
• Resume critiquing

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What should I do?

• Start your search!
• Postings at UI Cooperative Education Office
• MonsterTRAK
• Join the email distribution list
• Postings around the UI ECE department
• Career fairs at UI and WSU
• Professors

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Important points

• Polish your Resume
• Take advantage of the Cooperative Education
  Office resume critiquing service
• Polish your Cover letter
• Take advantage of the Cooperative Education
  Office cover letter critiquing service

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Important points

• References
• Faculty
• Former employers

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Important points

• Grades
• Electrical engineering fundamental knowledge
• Work ethic
• Integrity

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Can I get UI credits for it doing an
internship/co-op?

• In principle - yes
• In practice - no
• Enroll in ECE 398

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Acme Electronics doesnt recruit at UI. What can
I do?

• If you want to work for a company that doesnt
  recruit on campus..
• Be aggressive.contact the company on your own.
• Sending a resume cover letter may be the first
  step, but phone calls or person contact is a more
  powerful way to sell your self in this situation.
• This strategy has worked in situations where a
  company has not ever previously hired an intern.

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Start your search ASAP!

• The sooner you start, the sooner youll land a
  position.
• Do not get discouraged if something doesnt
  happen the first year or two.
• Going through the process is good practice for
  the real thing after graduation.
• Youll gain an understanding of the process
  what employers are looking for.
• Job hunting can be a bit of an art and you have
  to develop skill in this area.

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Questions?