How to Prepare for an Engineering Internship: What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do?

If you’re thinking about a career in mechanical engineering, an internship is a fantastic way of getting started. 

Mechanical engineering is an exciting and diverse sector on the forefront of change and innovation. From cutting-edge robotics to transport, health, and construction.

Unfortunately, the sector as a whole is increasingly competitive. Universities are producing more and more engineering graduates each year. How are employers meant to choose between countless talented students?

That’s why gaining some sort of hands-on experience is a good idea. 

First, an internship will give you the concrete skills and knowledge you need to stand out to future employers. You’ll be able to draw on your experiences and impress interviewers, as well as demonstrate your genuine interest in the job. A good reference never hurts, either!

You’ll also get a glimpse at the inner workings of this sector. It’s one thing learning theory – it’s another getting out in the field and seeing how that theory works in practice. 

You might even decide that the sector, or mechanical engineering specifically, isn’t for you. In that case, it’s a risk-free dip into the industry before committing yourself.

And, put simply, firms are always more likely to employ successful interns or placement students than outside applicants. That makes sense: they know you, and you’ve demonstrated your professionalism and hard work every day you’ve interned there. 

You’ll find mechanical engineering firms all over the world, all producing a range of products and services. Whether that’s Johnson & Johnson, Apple, or Audi. And if you’re looking for a less corporate experience, there’s plenty of mid-sized firms and fast-growing startups in every major city.

In short, you’ll never be short of work in this busy and well-paid sector; especially as you develop your skill-set and knowledge base.

But if you’re embarking on an internship in mechanical engineering, you’ll likely have never experienced the industry before. 

So you’re probably wondering what it is exactly that mechanical engineers do day-to-day. And how best to prepare yourself for your internship. 

That’s why we’ve put together just the guide. Read on and discover what it’s like to undertake an internship in mechanical internship; and what you should do to prepare for it.

We’ll dig into exactly what you’ll be doing shortly. But to begin with, let’s discuss some of the attributes and skills you’ll be expected to exhibit on an internship – and how best to prepare yourself if your skills need polishing. 

If you’ve studied and intend to embark upon a career in mechanical engineering, you’ll likely possess some of the key characteristics already. 

And mechanical engineering, like any other career, requires a few universal core skills like hard work and dedication. We’ll assume you possess those already; instead, we’ll focus on three specific skills that are key to mechanical engineering.

First up is mathematical skills. Good math skills are useful for any engineer, but will come in particular handy when it comes to mechanical engineering. 

Among plenty of others, you’ll be employing your trigonometry, differential and integral calculus, and vector skills as you get to grips with complex mathematical problems. 

If you feel like you need to brush up in any of these areas, grab a few textbooks and get to work. Some textbooks specifically cater to engineering students looking for a quick refresher, so keep an eye out for those.

Or you could go online and find some university-level exam papers. This is a good way of tuning your skills up to the standard that employers are expecting.

Next is analytical skills. This is a broad topic divided roughly into two categories: qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. You’ll need both to succeed in mechanical engineering. 

Qualitative analysis tends to be data collected from people. It usually concerns feelings and opinions, and there can often be a diverse range of information collected. 

As a mechanical engineer, you might be taking feedback on a firm’s products; whether that’s a new model of car or a new type of toothbrush. Or you could be sounding out a community’s opinion on the construction your company is about to undertake in their local area. 

To properly understand and convey your findings to others, qualitative skills are key.

Quantitative skills are more concerned with numerical analysis and data handling. You’ll be interpreting, concluding, and organizing results as you hammer down raw data into something more comprehensible. 

This is, of course, a vital part of mechanical engineering, in which you’ll be constantly testing, iterating, and re-testing products or projects. 

And it goes without saying that the two disciplines interact with each other in countless different ways. 

If you want to improve your analytical skills, we’d recommend reading more. Non-fiction, fiction, historical, scientific – it doesn’t matter. Engage your brain and your analytical skills will grow. Apps and maths games – or even an old-fashioned book of crosswords and Sudoku puzzles – will also help. You can also look for free online data handling courses or tutorials.

Lastly, you need creativity and imagination. This is a little harder to pin down, and it means something different to everyone you ask. 

But at its heart, mechanical engineering is about more than raw numbers and equations – it’s about design and flair. The iconic Roman aqueducts have stood the test of time, and you’re about to join the ranks of a pursuit as old as civilization. 

You’ll be solving problems with panache and originality – and the more imaginative you are, the better. Improving these skills can be tricky; but fortunately, we’ve put together a guide to boosting your problem-solving skills, so take a look if you’d like some specific guidance.

Wanting to be prepared for your internship is half the battle. By doing some research beforehand and working out what skills you’ll be exercising, you’ll come into your internship ready for anything. 

It’s also a good idea to keep abreast of any recent developments in the sector through journals or online news. Having a working knowledge of the biggest challenges facing the industry will help you in interviews – and in your role. 

Now that you know how to prepare for your internship, what’s the day-to-day life of a mechanical engineer?

it’s difficult to get into specifics of what a mechanical engineer does on a typical day. That’s because a typical day will vary wildly between role, firm, and even day of the week. 

At its core, this sector does not lend itself to the standard. Mechanical engineers tend to deal with the exception; getting stuck in when things go wrong, building on what’s already come before, and acting as a jack of all trades as you assist your colleagues. You’ll be making things safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective.

But here’s a broad look at the life of a mechanical engineer.

– Generally speaking, mechanical engineers work with other engineers to implement operating procedures, resolve system issues, or provide technical support.
– You’ll be constantly researching, designing and evaluating new systems, procedures and products – often to a design spec or requirements.
– You’ll be working with blueprints and technical drawings, as well as interpreting reports. And you might spend hours trouble-shooting mechanical faults.
– You might also be working with clients or the public as you take feedback on your firm’s products or services; and relaying this information back to your team.
– Your home base will vary. You might spend your time in an office, a lab, or a factory. Or your days could be filled with travel between these sites as you attend to your varied workload.
– You might spend long periods of time working independently. But you’ll always have the chance to touch base with your team, and projects will often require a great deal of group working.
– Shift work is common in this sector – after all, mechanical products and services don’t abide by normal working hours. So you might need to keep tabs on a project requiring round-the-clock oversight.

Mechanical engineering is a varied sector. You’ll find something new to occupy you every day; and you’ll balance your time between proactive work (researching and designing) and reactive work (addressing faults and issues as they arise). 

It can be tough, but it’ll never be boring!

If you’re a dedicated graduate or undergraduate looking to boost your chances of employment in mechanical engineering, consider an internship.

Undertaking work experience is the best way of gaining the key industry skills you need to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. It’ll also convey your passion to prospective employers; and it’s a good way of testing out whether this sector is right for you.

If you do choose an internship, it’s always a good idea to come prepared. While you’ll develop several industry-specific skills as you work, there’s a few general attributes that are key to making a good mechanical engineer. 

A strong command of mathematics is a must. In your role you’ll be constantly looking over calculations and drawing up blueprints where every detail counts. This is a sector where the cost of human error is high. So if you need to brush up on your skills, get to work. Grab some textbooks or look online and start challenging yourself with past exam papers.

You’ll also need strong analytical skills to handle both qualitative and quantitative data. To boost these skills, engage your brain as much as possible. Read widely and regularly tackle crosswords or Sudoku puzzles; or, download some brain-teasing apps. There are also free courses available online that can help you practise data handling.

Lastly, you’ll need a spark of creativity to solve problems with flair and originality. There’s often no rulebook when it comes to mechanical engineering – just whatever works. If you want to improve these skills, try logic puzzles and familiarizing yourself with the key stages of problem-solving.

At Beyond Academy, we offer a range of mechanical engineering internships in 14 different locations. So if you’d like to find out more and begin planning your dream internship, contact us and go Beyond!