Possible to get internship over winter break?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feasibility of obtaining an internship during the winter break for electrical and computer engineering undergraduates. Participants explore the potential for both paid and unpaid internships, considering the short duration of two weeks and the timing of the holiday season.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses doubt about the possibility of securing an internship over winter break, citing the short duration and the holiday closures of many companies.
  • Another participant mentions that unpaid internships may be less common due to recent legal changes and emphasizes that paid internships typically require a longer commitment to be meaningful.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that shadowing opportunities might exist, particularly at smaller companies, and recommends leveraging personal connections to find such opportunities.
  • One participant raises the idea that if the individual is open to working over the summer, it might increase their chances of finding an internship.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the feasibility of obtaining a meaningful internship during the winter break, with no consensus on the availability of opportunities. Multiple competing views regarding the nature of potential internships and the best approach to finding them are present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the assumption that companies may not offer meaningful work in a two-week timeframe and the dependence on individual connections for securing shadowing opportunities.

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

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