While it is ideal to start your search for a summer internship in the fall or winter,
it's never too late to apply! Many deadlines may have passed, but there are still opportunities up for grabs. There are always companies that don't realize they need an intern until May or June. We cultivated a list of
External Job Boards that may be useful in your search.
Listed below are some suggestions for what to do this summer if your internship was rescinded or if you were unable to find one during these difficult times. Some of these suggestions revolve around career development, personal development, or community service and we hope that some might even be considered fun. We also recommend that you list these experiences (as well as any rescinded offers) on your resume.
Career Development Workshops & Resources
Interview Prep
How would you respond to the list of interview questions in this handout? What examples would you give?
Mock Interviews
After attending one of our interview workshops, request to have a mock interview with a staff member by completing the Mock Interview Request Form.
Interviewing.com
Record yourself answering questions during a virtual mock interview using Big Interview.
Interview a Terp Alum
Whether you call it an informational interview or a “curious conversation” knowing more about your industry can make you a better applicant. We have many alums with profiles on Terrapins Connect, who would be happy to speak with you. But before you do, check out our Informational Interview Handout to learn how to make the most of these interactions.
Focus 2
Focus 2 helps UMD students and alumni identify their natural strengths by taking personality and work preference self assessments. Find directions to register on Handshake (under Career center -> Resources -> Click the top article -> Scroll down to see Focus 2).
Practice Case Interviews
There are several great case interview practice sites including:
LinkedIn Learning Topics for the Job Seeker
LinkedIn Learning, provides free online courses in a variety of technical and behavioral skills that can enhance your resume and round out your skillset. It is free for all University of Maryland students when you log in with your @umd.edu email address (your @terpmail account will not work).
Find information on how to set up a LinkedIn profile and tips for making professional connections through the platform on our Job Search Handouts page, under the Networking & the Hidden Job Market tab.
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Job Hunting for College Grads
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Creating a Career Plan
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Turning an Internship into a Job
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Writing a Resume
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Job Search Strategies
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Learning LinkedIn
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Mastering Common Interview Questions
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Giving Your Elevator Pitch
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Negotiating Your Job Offer
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- Preparing for Technical Questions
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ENES Courses
- ENES102: Mechanics I
- ENES192: Engineering For US All
- ENES200: Engineering Ethics
- ENES221: Dynamics
- ENES232: Thermodynamics
- ENES250: Why Do Things Fail?
- ENES475: Leadership in Times of Crisis: Pandemics, Disasters, and Humanitarian Crises
- *ENES317: Introduction to Leadership in Engineering, Science, and Technology
- *ENES472: Leading Global Teams and Engaging Across Cultures in Business, Engineering, and Technology
* ENES317 and ENES472 are usually only available to those in the global engineering leadership minor, but are open to all in the summer.
ENAE Courses:
- ENAE202: Computing Fundamentals for Engineers
- ENAE283: Introduction to Aerospace Systems
- ENAE311: Compressible Aerodynamics
- ENAE324: Aerospace Structures
- ENAE423: Vibration and Aeroelasticity
- ENAE432: Control of Aerospace Systems
- ENAE441: Space Navigation and Guidance
- ENAE457: Space Propulsion and Power
ENCE Courses:
- ENCE201: Engineering Information Processing
- *ENCE422: Project Cost Accounting and Economics
- *ENCE423: Project Planning, Estimating & Scheduling
* Prerequisites and restrictions do not apply during the summer term.
ENEE Courses:
- ENEE150: Intermediate Programming Concepts for Engineers
- ENEE200: Engineering Ethics (Same class as ENES200)
- ENEE205: Electric Circuits
- ENEE244: Digital Logic Design
- ENEE322: Signal and System Theory
- ENEE324: Engineering Probability
- ENEE350: Computer Organization
- ENEE382: Electromagnetics
- ENEE411: Advanced Analog and Digital Electronics
ENME Courses:
- ENME202: Computing Fundamentals for Engineers (same class as ENAE202)
- ENME331: Fluid Mechanics
- ENME332: Transfer Processes
- ENME361: Vibration, Controls and Optimization I
- ENME392: Statistical Methods for Product and Processes Development
- ENME400: Machine Design
- ENME445: Design for Reliability
- ENME462: Vibrations, Controls and Optimization II
- ENME470: Finite Element Analysis
BIOE Courses:
- BIOE221: Academic and Career Planning
- BIOE232: Bioengineering Thermodynamics
- BIOE371: Linear Systems and Ordinary Differential Equations for Bioengineering Applications
- BIOE431: Fundamentals of Biosensor Techniques, Instrumentation, and Applications
- BIOE442: Python: Introduction to Programming and Data Analysis
CHBE Courses:
- CHBE101: Introduction to Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- CHBE250: Computer Methods in Chemical Engineering
- CHBE301: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Thermodynamics I
Course descriptions can be found at https://eng.umd.edu/keystone/courses.
Course descriptions can be found at https://eng.umd.edu/global/leadership-courses.
Fast Forward Your Degree
Talk to your academic advisor to see if you can reasonably complete 9-12 credits this summer, that would free up a semester to 1) graduate early, 2) complete a co-op semester, or 3) spend a semester abroad.
LinkedIn Learning Skill Development
LinkedIn Learning, provides free online courses in a variety of technical and behavioral skills that can enhance your resume and round out your skillset. It is free for all current University of Maryland students when you log in with your @umd.edu address. (Logging in with your @terpmail account will not work.) If you connect your LinkedIn account to LinkedIn Learning (through your settings), then you can add a certificate to your LinkedIn account to prove that you finished it.
When should I use LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is a great tool to use over your breaks to continue developing and practicing technical skills. If you are interested in jobs that seek a technical skill that you need, you can use LinkedIn Learning at any point to develop that skill so you can add it to your resume. If you have an interview coming up, there are a variety of courses directed toward practicing technical and behavioral interview skills.
What LinkedIn Learning courses should I take?
Below, we have a list of recommended courses for different engineering majors. Of course, you know yourself best and can take whatever classes suit your needs.
Aerospace Engineering
Bioengineering
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Fire Protection Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Additional Options for Learning a Programming Language
Every employer expects engineering students to have some proficiency with programming and there are many online resources to teach yourself some basic programming. Here are just a few examples:
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Coursera (Make sure your class is FREE before signing up.)
RePicture STEM Exploration Course
RePicture.com is a virtual community where people can learn about STEM projects helping people across the world. The RePicture STEM Summer Program allows you to explore career opportunities, improve skills valued by employers, compete in contests, and grow your network and be part of the STEM community.
K-12 Videos
Make a video demonstrating a basic hands-on engineering activity/experiment that kids can do at home. Explain the concept/theory in very simple terms.
- Example: Talk about aerodynamics. Why are aerodynamics important and how do engineers use aerodynamics? Teach kids how to build paper airplanes. Test different airplane shapes to illustrate aerodynamics.
- Upload the video to your LinkedIn page and send us the link. If we receive enough, we can start our own YouTube channel that our K-12 programs can use.
- Get more ideas from:
The STEM Laboratory
Kindergarten Connection - Engineering Activities
Teach Engineering
Plus hundreds more!
Home Projects
Are you a car, computer, home, or appliance "fix-it" enthusiast? Take time-lapse photographs of a repair or a rebuild and post it on your LinkedIn profile.
Help your community during this crisis. Opportunities exist at the national and local level:
Volunteer with Fellow Terps
Start a Food Drive
Collect food donations in your neighborhood and bring them to a food bank. Or, join UMD's Campus Pantry to distribute emergency food to Terps in need.
Conversation Exchange
Connect with members of the campus and experience cultural exchange through
English Conversation Partners at the University of Maryland.
Kindling Curiosity Instructors
Kindling Curiosity is a high school student-run group that aims to provide free one-hour lectures and Q&A sessions via Zoom to elementary school students and middle school students who are interested in learning topics in various subjects such as mathematics, computer science, debate and English. If you think you might want to be an instructor, complete this form,
Kindling Curiosity - Join Us or email
contact@kindlingcuriosity.org if you have questions.
AmeriCorps VISTA
Consider joining the
AmeriCorps VISTA program as a Summer Associate and serve a community in need. AmeriCorps VISTA is the only AmeriCorps program that allows members to earn federal non-competitive eligibility, giving members an edge in the federal hiring process.