"The expert in anything was once a beginner." – Helen Hayes
Let’s be honest—getting an engineering internship when you have zero experience feels like a catch-22. Employers want experience, but you need a job to get experience. It’s frustrating, but here’s the truth: plenty of students land internships with no prior experience—they just approach it the right way.
If you’re struggling to get that first engineering internship, don’t worry. This guide will show you exactly how to stand out, prove your skills, and land an internship—even if your resume is practically empty.
Do You Need Experience for an Engineering Internship?
No! Many companies expect interns to have little to no professional experience. Instead, they look for:
- Problem-solving skills – Can you think through engineering challenges?
- Passion for learning – Are you eager to grow and contribute?
- Basic technical knowledge – Do you understand fundamental concepts?
- Initiative & motivation – Have you taken steps to build skills outside of class?
If you can show these qualities, you can land an internship—even without prior experience.
How to Get an Engineering Internship with No Experience
Start Building Experience Today (Even Without a Job)
If you don’t have internship experience, create your own. Employers want proof that you can apply engineering skills, so build something:
- Mechanical Engineering? Design a simple machine in CAD and document it.
- Electrical Engineering? Build an Arduino project and showcase it online.
- Software Engineering? Code a small app and publish it on GitHub.
- Civil Engineering? Model a structure in AutoCAD or Revit.
💡 Pro Tip: Document everything! Create a portfolio website or post your work on LinkedIn. Even a personal blog about what you’re learning can make you stand out.
Join Engineering Competitions & Hackathons
Competitions give you hands-on experience and look great on a resume. Plus, they prove that you can work under pressure and solve real-world problems.
- Mechanical/Aerospace: Formula SAE, NASA Rover Challenge
- Electrical: IEEE Robotics, Hackaday Prize
- Software: Major League Hacking (MLH), Google Hash Code
- Civil/Environmental: ASCE Concrete Canoe, Solar Decathlon
💡 Pro Tip: If you don’t win, that’s fine. Just participating shows initiative and problem-solving skills.
Contribute to Open-Source Projects
Open-source projects let you gain real-world experience without needing a job.
✅ For software engineers: Find projects on GitHub and contribute to documentation, bug fixes, or features.
✅ For hardware engineers: Document your builds and share them in online communities (Hackaday, r/engineering).
Where to start?
- GitHub Explore (for software projects)
- Hackaday & Instructables (for hardware projects)
- Online forums (Reddit, Discord, LinkedIn groups)
Even small contributions prove that you can work in a collaborative, real-world environment.
Network Your Way to an Internship
Many engineering internships aren’t even posted online—they’re filled through referrals. Start networking early:
- Talk to professors – They may have industry contacts.
- Attend career fairs – Even if you don’t get an offer, you’ll build connections.
- Use LinkedIn – Reach out to engineers at companies you’re interested in.
💡 How to cold-message someone on LinkedIn:
🚫 Bad: “Hey, can you refer me for an internship?”
✅ Good: “Hi [Name], I’m a student studying [your field] and really interested in [their company]. How did you get started in [industry]? I’d love to hear your insights!”
People love to share advice, and these conversations can lead to referrals.
Craft a Resume That Stands Out (Even Without Experience)
If your resume feels empty, here’s how to fix it:
- Highlight personal projects – Employers love hands-on experience.
- Showcase coursework – List relevant engineering classes and skills.
- Include clubs & extracurriculars – If you’re part of IEEE, ASME, or SWE, mention it.
- Add online certifications – Courses from Coursera, Udemy, or MIT OpenCourseWare can boost your credibility.
💡 Pro Tip: If your GPA isn’t great, leave it off. Focus on skills and projects instead.
Apply Strategically (Not Just to Big Companies)
If you’re applying to Google, Tesla, or SpaceX with zero experience, you might struggle. But startups, mid-sized companies, and research labs are much more flexible.
🔍 Where to find them?
- Nerd Werk (STEM Companies)
- AngelList (startups)
- Handshake (university job boards)
- LinkedIn Jobs (search for “entry-level engineering internships”)
- University Research Labs (email professors to ask about openings)
💡 Pro Tip: Apply early! Many companies hire interns 6-8 months in advance.
Ace the Interview
If you land an interview, congratulations! Now, prove you’re the right fit.
✅ Know your fundamentals – Expect basic technical questions.
✅ Be ready for behavioral questions – Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
✅ Showcase passion & problem-solving – If you lack experience, talk about projects, hackathons, or competitions.
💡 Example question: “Tell me about a time you solved a technical problem.”
✅ Good answer: Talk about a project, competition, or class assignment where you encountered a challenge and found a solution.
Final Thoughts
Landing an engineering internship with zero experience is absolutely possible. The key is to show initiative, build skills, and network aggressively.
- Start personal projects & document them.
- Join hackathons, competitions, or open-source projects.
- Network with engineers & ask for advice.
- Tailor your resume to highlight skills & coursework.
- Apply to startups, mid-sized companies, and research labs.
Your first internship won’t land in your lap—you have to go after it. But with persistence and strategy, you’ll break into the industry and set yourself up for future opportunities.