This blog addresses a crucial aspect of an EngSci student’s journey: securing summer i*ternsh*ps. So, this is going to be one of those useful blogs, where I first discuss my J-word hunt experience and later offer advice on how to make the J-word hunt experience for the 800 hours of practical work requirement go well for you guys.
The J-word hunt experience
My J-word hunt was a tough journey that tested my patience and perseverance. The Sankey diagram below captures just how draining it felt at times and how everything came down (as of now). There were moments when I doubted whether I’d secure an i*te*nsh*p at all this year. Thankfully, the story has a brighter ending: not only did I land an offer, but I actually received two offers that align well with my goals and would mean I’ll likely be able to complete the full 800 hours before Part 3 wraps up. So, it would also mean that I would graduate on time (fingers crossed that I don’t fail any of my papers). The in*ernsh*p offers I accepted came from:
- Kiwirail: where I will be working as an ICT intern, focusing on tasks such as system and application analysis of the current data and computer architecture used in the corporate offices.
- An AI start-up founded by my old neighbour, where I would work part-time while studying during Part 3 (and maybe even Part 4), focusing on building and integrating voice AI agents into the workflows for various companies.
So, having recently received an int*rnsh*p offer from KiwiRail, I believe I am now qualified to write the next part of the blog, offering tips on securing an int*rnship. The i*te*nsh*p hiring process also involved a virtual interview, as well as a panel interview on a Teams call. I did think that there was no way this blog would be written because I had almost lost hope of getting an int*rnsh*p and thought they just reject everyone after a virtual interview, and that I had bombed my interviews, but surprisingly, I did well and below are some tips/summary of what I learnt through applying for int*rnsh*ps. (On a side note, this blog and tips would probably not have been a thing if I received 0 i*ternsh*p offers)
Tips I’d pass on
Ultimately, in this economy, to get an in*ernsh*p, u need to stand out from others in some way, shape or form, and there are many ways to do that (ie. extracurriculars, personal projects, an interesting story, previous interesting j*b experiences, exec positions of clubs, awards, etc.). However, you should also consider the points I will discuss below.
Tailor every application:
Demonstrate to the company that you understand their mission and how you align with it. Ultimately, you need to demonstrate how you align with the values of the particular company you are applying to in your cover letter, as well as in virtual/in-person/even technical interviews. Furthermore, due to the broad nature of Engsci, it is very easy to tailor and sell your degree in a way that relates to the j*b description. I would 100% recommend including a professional summary column in your CV that specifically tailors to the j*b description of the in*ernsh*p you are interested in applying for.
Have at least a few personal projects in your CV, but do not use the projects you made in the courses that everyone does:
Including personal projects on your CV is a straightforward way to stand out. These individual projects should also ideally be easily accessible via a link that’s easy to view, and ideally not require hiring managers to set up a GitHub repository for your project to run. I also recommend that you write out the link entirely rather than embedding it as a hyperlink, as sometimes CVs are printed rather than viewed electronically. The projects should, of course, be exciting, and the ones I completed are attached here as hyperlinks; however, please write out the full link in your CVs. My projects included a GPA predictor and a similarity detector, which you can learn more about on my GitHub and LinkedIn. I came up with some unique ideas, and as a result, my projects definitely set me apart. I would also say that you should not choose a project like building your ENGGEN 299 motor, because everyone in the cohort does that every year, and it doesn’t make you stand out from others.
Have some j*b experience or even volunteer experience before the second year starts:
By the time you hit your second year, having some form of j*b or volunteer experience on your CV makes a huge difference. It doesn’t have to be strictly engineering-related; tutoring, retail work, or even volunteering for a community group can teach you valuable soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and responsibility. These skills translate directly into the int*rnsh*p space, and they show recruiters that you’re not just book-smart but can also thrive in real-world environments. For part 1 (and anyone in part 2/part 3 without an internsh*p this summer), you have a 3-month holiday coming up. While this seems like a good time to relax and do nothing, I highly recommend applying for part-time or summer j*bs instead and taking those on. I know the economy is tough rn, so if it’s hard to get a summer j*b, definitely spend your time volunteering somewhere (maybe at a place like your local op-shop perhaps?). Typically, those with no experience before Part 2 are the ones I see struggling the most to secure interviews and unfortunately, its kinda a cycle where if you do not have a j*b or experience, you become less desirable to hire, and so, even struggle more if you do not have any experience before you apply for these internsh*ps. Ultimately, as our BME blogger, Iz, said in her blog about internsh*ps, the most important thing about landing these internsh*ps is “It’s whether the employers can trust you to do the j*b or not”, and having some sort of work experience (other than netw*rking) is one of the crucial steps in building that trust.
Have interesting stories ready to share in your cover letters and interviews:
Concrete examples make you sound confident and authentic, and “have an interesting story to tell” is advice constantly given by our goated MM2/MM3 lecturer, Kevin Jia. Additionally, if they find your anecdotes interesting, it makes you more hirable in a way, as the interviewer is more likely to be interested in you due to your interesting stories. It can also make you stand out from others, making it easier for the interviewer to choose you over everyone else. Additionally, interesting stories can be a great way to connect and network with recruiting managers or other employees you meet at company events. These connections (if kept and utilised properly) could also lead you to get an internsh*p or a j*b.
Show that you are willing to and want to learn in your interviews:
One of the biggest red flags for interviewers is a student who’s not eager to learn. I think those hard technical interviews are intended to test how much you are willing to learn and persevere in solving a problem, rather than how skilled you are in your subject matter. You don’t have to know everything already, and no one expects that at this stage of life. What matters is showing curiosity, asking good questions, and being open to feedback. In my initial interviews, I forgot to mention things like, “I haven’t worked on this exact tool/thing before, but here’s how I’d go about learning it,” and instead talked more about how well I know the tools that built my personal projects. However, the interview at Kiwirail was where I was more like “I want to learn how the tech at a big organisation works and how I have a broad taste for learning, and this is reflected in the way I picked Engsci”, and I ofc got that j*b. This experience clearly demonstrates initiative around wanting to learn as much as I can, rather than pretending to know it all, which works better in the long run. Employers value attitude just as much as technical skill, because they want someone who will grow with the company.
Practice, but don’t memorise your responses:
Sounding too rehearsed in interviews can come across as robotic. You need to let your natural personality shine, and in a way, that’s a good thing because doing so would lead you to work at a company that suits your personality the best. Faking your personality in an interview can ultimately lead you to co-workers with whom you may not vibe well when you actually get to work.
Ask thoughtful questions:
Interviews go both ways, and this is your chance to learn about the company you could work for. Failing to ask questions at the end (or when allowed to ask questions) is typically seen as a “red flag,” indicating a lack of initiative on your part to research the company. Good questions, on the other hand, particularly those related to the nature of your role, can make you stand out.
Send a thank you email after the interview:
This is optional but recommended. If you do send a thank-you note following the interview, please do it within 24 hours. However, please do not overdo it and follow up only once or, at most, twice in total after an interview. A quick thank-you note shows respect for the interviewer’s time, reinforces your fit, and keeps your name top of mind when decisions are made. So, it can also be something that stands you out. However, not sending a thank-you note after an interview does not negatively impact your application but a good thank you note can prob be a deciding factor between the top 2 best candidates for a hiring manager.
Stay patient:
Rejection is part of the process. Every no brings you closer to the right yes. And one win is all you need! If you do not secure an in*er*s*ip by the end of P2/P3, it’s not the end of the world and would simply mean you may graduate a semester or two later, at worst. Regardless, if you do not have an i*te*nsh*p by the end of P2/P3, I would 100% recommend not spending your summer idle, doing nothing but rather building a personal project, volunteering, or even just working at any place u can work (eg, Maccas, a warehouse, retail, etc.) to enhance your CV for later on.
Lastly, I would like to conclude by saying that securing an int*rnsh*p isn’t a perfectly straight line; it’s messy, unpredictable, and at times discouraging. Yet that’s exactly why every rejection, every awkward interview, and every j*b application you send out matters because it ultimately shapes you into someone who’s more resilient, more resourceful, and more prepared for what comes next. I started this J-word hunt journey thinking I might not get a single offer, and I ended it with two that actually fit me well. If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: persistence really does pay off, and all you need is one “yes” to shift the whole story. Whether your path takes you through rejection, volunteering, side projects, or unexpected roles, keep pushing. The opportunities will come, and when they do, you’ll realise the struggle was worth it.