Hi guys! I hope you all had an awesome break and are feeling refreshed and ready to get stuck in! That’s what people always say anyway even though I’ve never felt rEfReShEd 😆
July and August has been grind time for second years as we scramble to apply to as many internships as we can to give ourselves a chance. I say “applying,” it’s more like begging. In this blog, I’ll explain how practical works at UoA, discuss my experiences with applying for internships for the summer and give you some insights into what you can expect next year.
ABOUT PRACTICAL WORK
Now first of all, I should probably explain UoA’s practical work requirements even though I’m sure they will tell you all this when you start next year. So basically, to get your engineering degree, regardless of the specialisation, you have to complete at least 800 hours of practical work. In the past this 800 hours had to consist of at least 400 hours of sub-professional work, i.e. an internship and the rest could be general work (any work that relates to your degree). However, in recent years, they have changed the requirements so that the 800 hours can be entirely general work (probably because internships are becoming more and more difficult to get).
Now for mechanical engineering, the type of work that is appropriate to gain hours for is pretty general. This is what the university says…
When you do get an internship or general work, you have to log your hours through UoA’s practical portal and write a report at the end of your time at the company. But don’t worry, all of this will be explained to you eventually!If you want to find out more information about practical work, head to the practical work page – https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/engineering/current-students/undergraduate/practical-work.html
HOW DO I APPLY FOR INTERNSHIPS?
I found Prosple the best job-searching tool by far. It was introduced to me by the Practical Work Assistance Centre earlier on this year and pretty much all the internships I applied for were through here (nz.prosple.com/)
Some other good websites are Indeed (nz.indeed.com/) and Seek (www.seek.co.nz/)
Applications usually involve the usual admin questions, a couple of longer questions, a CV and a cover letter. The longer questions are usually something like “Why does this job appeal to you” or “What can you bring to the company.” In the case of scholarships, they usually require an essay.
TIPS & TRICKS
- BEGGERS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS. Internships are very very competitive, especially for second years as a lot of companies prefer to hire third or fourth years. This means that if you meet the requirements for a job application, APPLY, even if it’s not something you think you would do in the future. If you’re absolutely cracked, you can be picky and find something that will suit your aspirations but there’s certainly not that many people in this situation.
- Don’t limit yourself to Auckland or your home city. Auckland is by far the most competitive place in NZ for internships while also having the most opportunities. Applying for jobs elsewhere, even overseas will maximise your opportunities as well as broaden your horizons as a developing engineer.
- START EARLY. Applications for summer work usually close in July and August (for the majority of companies) so make sure you get on to getting a CV together and a template cover letter. While there is no pressure to do so, consider looking for practical work this summer. I have a couple of friends who got internships in first-year and this would have made this year sooo much easier for them, gaining real-world experience early on and also improving their chances of getting internships drastically.
DID ROHAN FIND A JOB??
Now in total, I applied for 16 internships, including many of the major companies including Fisher and Paykel, Fonterra, WSP, GHD, Beca and Kiwirail. And I guess I wasn’t good enough cause I got rejected from 13 of them and ghosted by the rest! I know people that have applied to upwards of 50 companies and still no luck! I’ve managed to get a job at a factory in Levin (I’m from Palmerston North) helping out with the maintenance and repair of machinery so this will still count as general hours. In the end, it’s still practical experience and there is something to say for hands-on labour.
Even though mechanical engineering probably has the most opportunities out of any spec, other than civil, it’s still tough. The best thing you can do as first-years is get experience. Join engineering-related clubs, apply for exec positions, try and do engineering stuff outside of your degree because in the end, that’s what companies froth over!
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask down below.
Happy running and see you next time!
Rohan