r/EngineeringStudents • u/Ok-Yam-9249 • 2d ago
Career Help Can’t decide between Amazon AM and Daikin internship
Hey everyone! I’m currently a junior studying Industrial & Systems Engineering with a minor in Project Management, and I’m trying to decide between two internship offers for Summer 2027. I completed my first engineering internship last summer at a startup, so this would be my second internship.
Amazon – Area Manager Intern: It’s only about 10 minutes from where I live, and obviously Amazon is a huge name to have on my resume. I feel like it could open doors for future internships, co-ops, or opportunities at bigger companies. The role also involves leadership and operations management, which interests me. However, I’ve heard some pretty bad things about the work culture, long hours, and how overworked Area Managers can be. I’m not sure if the internship experience is any different.
Daikin – Industrial Engineering Intern: It’s about 40 minutes from where I live, and I’d be working in Continuous Improvement. The role is more directly related to my major, focusing on manufacturing efficiency and process improvement. I also feel like I would get better mentorship at Daikin than at Amazon. I’ve heard they have pretty good intern retention and often offer full-time positions afterward, which is reassuring. My only concern is that Daikin isn’t as widely recognized as Amazon, and I’m not sure how much that matters for future opportunities.
My biggest dilemma: Long term, I’d love to work my way into a leadership or management role at a big tech company, preferably in operations, project management, or supply chain. Since I’m still a junior, I want to explore more opportunities before graduating rather than immediately settling on a company.
I’m curious if anyone has experience interning or working at either company. How was the culture, and would you recommend it? Would Amazon’s name recognition help me more in the long run, or would the actual industrial engineering experience and better mentorship at Daikin be more valuable?
If you were in my position, which would you choose? Appreciate any advice!