Possible to get internship over winter break?

[ECEngineering]

I'm currently an electrical and computer engineering undergrad and I get 4 weeks off for winter break. Is it possible to get an internship (paid or unpaid), preferably in industry, for such a short period of time?

 

[D H]

I strongly doubt it.

Given the recent Supreme Court decision, unpaid internships are probably a thing of the past. Besides, most engineering firms that offer internships pay their interns. Those paid interns are expected to do something that is marginally useful. You aren't going to be able to learn to do anything useful in two weeks, let alone do it.

Two weeks is all you have, not four. Many companies are closed between Christmas and New Years Day. The week before Christmas is not a good time to start an internship because a lot of people take that last week off, and those who do work use that time to finish up the year. What could you learn and then do in two weeks?

 

[pascal12]

The few gigs I've seen over Winter Break are just shadowing somebody's job. This would probably only take place at a smaller company. I don't know how common these are, but if you want to do this, then your best bet is probably to ask a family friend or other connection.

 

[carlgrace]

@ECEngineering: where are you located? You may be able to pull it off if you could commit to working over the summer.