2012-02-17, 08:22 AM
I'm currently working on my B.S. in Phyiscs so I don't know how much of this will be applicable to you, but I have been fortunate enough to to intern for three summers with the last two at SAIC (google it if you must) as a Test Engineer.
From my experience, no one really expects you to have a a great deal of experience because usually it doesn't matter. 90% of whatever they hire you to do is going to job specific and they expect to have to teach you. Based on my coworkers, they usually look forward to the mentorship process in general because they quite simply wouldn't hire an intern if they didn't want one. No one ever needs an intern. It's more of a community service project or at best an investment so they can get first dibs on hiring you when you graduate. The trick to is to try to make yourself useful and only need something explained once.
To get an internship:
Your GPA is excellent, but no one actually cares. If you have 3.0+ 90% of employers probably won't care. GPA is only an issue when it disqualifies you.
My personal recommendation is to apply absolutely everwhere. Get your resume to as many people as possible even if you don't exactly qualify for the job or its not exactly what you're looking for. Since you haven't had an internship or a job (?) before, you first goal should be to get something to put on your resume so that when you graduate you have a reference and proof that you aren't an idiot/social reject who would be utterly unemployable.
Alternatively, you can try volunteering to work on a campaign for a local city official (I've known several people to do this) or maybe at a Courthouse if that interests you. If money is a factor, getting any job (cashier, lifeguard, w/e) shows at least enough responsibility to show up on time for work on a regular basis.
To conclude, don't worry so much. You are more than prepared and qualified for internships, you just need to get your foot in the door and convince someone hiring.
FYI: Getting drunk one night at a party probably won't end your chance of a successful career and happily ever after. But I do give props for taking responsibility for your own future, too many people try to skate by.
From my experience, no one really expects you to have a a great deal of experience because usually it doesn't matter. 90% of whatever they hire you to do is going to job specific and they expect to have to teach you. Based on my coworkers, they usually look forward to the mentorship process in general because they quite simply wouldn't hire an intern if they didn't want one. No one ever needs an intern. It's more of a community service project or at best an investment so they can get first dibs on hiring you when you graduate. The trick to is to try to make yourself useful and only need something explained once.
To get an internship:
Your GPA is excellent, but no one actually cares. If you have 3.0+ 90% of employers probably won't care. GPA is only an issue when it disqualifies you.
My personal recommendation is to apply absolutely everwhere. Get your resume to as many people as possible even if you don't exactly qualify for the job or its not exactly what you're looking for. Since you haven't had an internship or a job (?) before, you first goal should be to get something to put on your resume so that when you graduate you have a reference and proof that you aren't an idiot/social reject who would be utterly unemployable.
Alternatively, you can try volunteering to work on a campaign for a local city official (I've known several people to do this) or maybe at a Courthouse if that interests you. If money is a factor, getting any job (cashier, lifeguard, w/e) shows at least enough responsibility to show up on time for work on a regular basis.
To conclude, don't worry so much. You are more than prepared and qualified for internships, you just need to get your foot in the door and convince someone hiring.
FYI: Getting drunk one night at a party probably won't end your chance of a successful career and happily ever after. But I do give props for taking responsibility for your own future, too many people try to skate by.