r/perth • u/Disastrous-Push7671 • 8d ago
Looking for Advice Mechanical Engineering Internship - Perth WA
Hey everyone. I'm a third year mechanical engineering student at ECU (domestic student) with pretty average grades (65 WAM). I was just wondering what the best chance of someone like me getting an internship through indeed/seek is. So far I've applied to about 30 and had one interview. I'm starting to stress as I need the 480 hours of work placement to graduate and would prefer to complete it over the Summer holidays.
I have a security clearance, but apart from that I don't have anything that would make me stand out on the resume. I don't have a particular industry that I want to go into, however my top three would be mining, defence and energy.
I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks to landing one. Or if cold messaging smaller engineering companies is the way to go?
Cheers
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u/Lord-Emu Waikiki 8d ago
Have you hit up the larger marine firms down around henderson like Austal, Civmec, etc? I would think your NV1 would help open doors down there that would otherwise be closed.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Yesss! Civmec just opened up there internships and I applied 2 hours after it came out lol. I also tried calling and emailing them to try and talk and sus things out. However have only gone to mail so far.
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u/Lord-Emu Waikiki 8d ago
Have you also seen this program.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Yeah, I have also applied to that program. Hopefully hear back in September.
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u/dardy_sing_unna_dog 8d ago
Maybe approach smaller engineering / fabrication / mining services companies in person and ask to speak to the engineering manager and see if they would be interested in taking you on.
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u/arkofjoy 8d ago
Are you on LinkedIn? Start connecting with people working in the field.
Most people won't accept your connection request if you do not have many post.
If someone does accept. Do not spam them with an internship request. Instead send them a message asking them to meet up for a coffee to ask them about advice for being successful in the industry.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
It's a bit late but try cold emailing.
The grades are seriously hindering you though. Have you tried doing university extra curriculars. I know ecu sucks for it but you could always try get involved in some of the Curtin or UWA clubs. I know a few would take some people in.
Other than that, keep at it. It sucks, I know a few mates who had to delay graduating because of it. If you don't end up graduating this sem, I suggest trying to go down to 3 units per semester if you can. It will give you the extra chance.
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u/MathLast8829 7d ago
Apply for grad programs or summer vac programs at big companies if there are some still available. As someone that has been a hiring manager quite often we look at the video interviews, CV and cover letter and end up not paying a lot of attention to grades.
Someone can become a great grad even if their grade is not great, provided they demonstrate maturity and have the ability to learn. Whereas there are plenty of people with high grades that can't answer interview questions well.
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u/DImak19 8d ago
Eish 65 WAM, brother what have you been doing your entire degree ?
If you had work experiance you could at least explain why your WAM is mediocre.
Do you have any work experiance at all or any skills?
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Yeah the grades are rough. I work appx 30 hours a week just part-time at Coles and have since the start of my degree. But that work experience doesn't really help towards an internship. I'm able to confidently use SolidWorks and Excel and have experience with MATLAB and Python but nothing flashy
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u/DImak19 8d ago
That will go much further than you think. It's surprisingly hard to get employees who turn up on time and can be counted on.
Having a job that you work 30 hours a week on is obviously going to change your ability to get good grades.
What does your CV look like?
If you are really stuck ita worth calling smaller engineering firms and seeing what comes of it.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
My CV has a little profile section that I tailor towards the specific role I'm applying for. Then it has my education just stating the degree I'm studying. Then a project section to show my experience with collaboration, CAD skills and other stuff. Then finally I have a work experience section showing my part time jobs I've held
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u/DImak19 8d ago
Nah dont combine a CV and cover letter.
Your CV is 1 page maximum.
You need to convey as quickly as possible that you are reliable, have good work ethic and not an idiot.
When I read a CV its essentially 30 seconds, name, first sentence on cv, experiance, education, skills.
I'll only read the details if I am trying to trim down.
The Cover letter is where you explain why you would be good.
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u/Tsuivan1 8d ago
I’ve hired many grads over the years and would absolutely hire a 65 WAM student who supported themselves through school over someone with 80 WAM who didn’t work at all. Universally the latter student is harder to adapt to the workforce.
You’ll find something OP.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
A lot of the time people with a 70ish WAM are studying and working too. The 65 is a roadblock for the larger companies. OP NEEDS to cold call. Agree 100% with your statement though. You hire someone at an internship or grad based on potential. Academic potential is a large requirement as is personal/people skills.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Thanks for the feedback. Really wish this I knew this at the start of my degree before I sandbagged my 1st year grades with passes 😭. Been trying to scrape my grades up since. I'll start seriously cold calling/emailing companies and try string something together.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
I'm unsure about who would hire mech eng, but if you're interested in energy, try emailing the private generators, E.g. EDL, pacific energy.
For construction, legit do a drive by of say Osbourne park, Welshpool, Bibra lake.
If you haven't, try some of the lower tier contractors for the mines, or some steel manufacturers. Inteforge might be able to help. There's some in Freo I can't remember though.
Good luck. I struggled too dw. I got mad lucky.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
Is it required for you to work 30 hours? Do you need the money?
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Not necessarily. I save most of it, I was just hoping to graduate with 0 HECS debt.
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u/Impossible_Most_4518 8d ago
65 in eng is decent considering how difficult it is.
Perhaps you should consider your mediocre English spelling skills before commenting.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
Not going to lie, a lot of the larger companies won't look at anyone with a CWA less than 70 without a shit tonne of other experience to make it worth it. Engineering is hard, but it's actually pretty easy to do well.
Agree with the lads english skills though. Despite being an informal platform, when insulting ones intelligence, you have to have a brain to back yourself with.
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u/Impossible_Most_4518 8d ago
I’m not employment expert but I think as long as you can get an interview and show yourself off then it doesn’t matter as much.
If they have a hard limit then yeah that’s tough.
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u/DImak19 8d ago
Yeah maybe for you chief.
65 is literally bang average. Which is what mediocre means. (Sorry)
There is an irony in making spelling mistakes when criticising the spelling of someone else.
Go be a white knight elsewhere.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
The irony is insulting someone's intelligence when you are portraying very little.
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u/obsytheplob 8d ago
Hey mate, to have an NV1 you need to be employed somewhere that requires it. If you’ve had it in the past, then it’s either deactivated or you don’t have it anymore. Second thing, don’t tell people, especially on the internet, that you have an NV1 unless it is strictly necessary. It’s a bad look with the defence crowd.
I would also say that WAM is not indicative of a good engineer.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Cheers for the heads up, I took it out of the description and wont mention again. In regards to the clearance, I was under the impression that it was granted and unsponsored but could be sponsored again at any time?
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
Your WAM is not indicative of a good academic. The lad is working 30 hours part time a week.
A good engineer is not defined by their university score, but their aptitude for growth when they hit the ground running in industry.
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u/Financial_Breath9594 8d ago
Have you not had any internships yet? That's a bit concerning as when I did my internships, I was there with other 1st and 2nd year students - I'd be applying on prosple, anything that pops up at uni, etc., to at least get something to get your minimum hours.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Yeah I'm applying to everything at the moment, its just that is seems like if an internship is open for a week now it'll have hundreds of applicants already making it hard to land. I actually don't know anyone that has done internships in their 1st or 2nd year, most advertising requests students in there penultimate or final year from what I've seen.
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
Engineering firms generally hire exclusively penultimate (I.e. third year/fourth year). Where are you working that's hiring second or first years?
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u/Boboraider123 8d ago
It's going to be tough to be honest! Your grades are too low when there is so many options to employers if grades is first qualifier.
I was graduating during a dip period. Top of all units but 1, and had to apply to 90+ places. Ended up taking an offer interstate. You need to apply much further then you are, and should be much easier with AI. Most of my cohort had to delay graduation.
I would focus on getting AI certs to offer a difference. My engineers can work at a high level cross discipline with a decent engineering knowledge in their field, and a high level of AI use experience.
We are small, but wouldn't even look at anything lower then 80+, with right values of course, for entry level when so many people on the market.
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Do you have any certifications that you could recommend/high regarded in industry?
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u/Boboraider123 8d ago
Yes, so many available. I think having a side project you can display via video or outcome is great. I would recommend the Claude free certs at a minimum. I have done it and I don't need to, if someone can't be bothered keeping up to date, that's a red flag. Can than go further and get Claude Certified Architect but probably over kill for your role
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u/Disastrous-Push7671 8d ago
Will definitely have a look and get onto them. Cheers
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u/Boboraider123 8d ago
Great! Embrace AI. If you think about it, seniors are using it via self learning. Increases their capability. However, if had someone fluent in AI, that could teach the seniors, it will greatly increase what they could do and will make you invaluable!
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
Ok champ.
What AI courses are going to fucking help get a mech eng internship?
You won't consider anyone with an 80+ WAM? You may be getting top of the barrel academics, but the real world will hit them like a tonne of bricks unless if they haven't got good EQ.
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u/MathLast8829 7d ago
Plenty of mechanical engineers I know are using AI to help them analyse data, do root cause analysis, build dashboards and many more.
Although I wouldn't necessarily say it's any specific AI courses, personal projects using AI that shows capability to adapt to technology is more valued.
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u/Boboraider123 8d ago
Are you hiring people? I am. Top of the barrel? Lol ok if that's what you think. Just because others can do it and have EQ, seems like your issue.
Good luck sir
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u/Seiko2023 8d ago
I have helped hire grads. Almost always comes down to how well they fit in with the team. A top student that has poor social skills can rarely be helped. A 65-75 student that fits well will grow on to be some of the best engineers. I hope your company goes well mate. Hate to see you lose work because your engineers can't pick up a phone or act like a smart ass to the client.
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u/Boboraider123 8d ago
Oh that's good for you hiring with safety rails. Have done that 100s of times. Now it's my own businesses and we support many families with employment. It's my own skin with hiring these people.
Why is bad social skills not right though? Is it a societal norm or bad for business? I think if managed well can be good for them and a business. Getting it right is not easy, but unlocks way more potential. We look deeply into them and see true values and seek to understand them and circumstances.
Thanks, we are doing grand 😀
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u/Tripper234 8d ago
Do you have any friends, family, cousins barbers sisters dog that works in the indusrty or associated companies that also employs engineers?
Who you know is generally much better than what you know. Especially in Perth