Advice for a College Student Internship at United

connorc

connorc

Well-Known Member
Hi everyone,
I'm new here, and I thought this might be a good place to ask this question. This upcoming week, there is a big career fair at my college. There are tons of companies coming like Boeing, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, United Airlines (which I'm most interested in), etc. Currently I'm a freshman studying engineering with an intended specific major of aerospace engineering which I'll enter my junior year. That's how they do things here at Penn State University. Anyway I would love to get an internship with United (or another airline) and I'd love some advice from anyone who has maybe done this before.

My biggest flaw is that I'm a freshman. One of the programs they offer, is for aerospace engineering students that are sophomores or higher. Since I'd do this in the summer, I would be finished with my first year and technically be a sophomore but even then United would probably be more inclined to offer a spot to someone older. I want to make a great impression and hopefully land this. With some luck, all of that previously useless knowledge of airlines will finally pay off.

Any advice would be great! Thanks.
 
Only do United if you are planning on being a pilot. It will help in that regard. I wouldn't do a UAL internship for an engineering degree personally, seems like a huge waste.
 
connorc said:
That is originally what I thought but they actually have internships for aero students as well as other engineering majors.
https://ual-pro.taleo.net/careersection/10340/joblist.ftl?lang=en

Once I have more experience, I'll apply for one at somewhere like Boeing.
Click to expand...

Well, based on what an Aerospace Engineer graduate from PSU has told me, get the internship with Boeing/Bell/Gulfstream/etc. as soon as you can, and keep your GPA up. Many don't get accepted to Aerospace Engineering at PSU. I think he is waiting to here back from a helicopter company now as a flight test engineer.
 
Definitely getting an internship with a company in the business of building airplanes or specialized components for aircraft is a great way to go. Rockwell Collins, Garmin, Cessna, Airbus Helicopters to add a few to @n57flyguy 's list. The airlines, would be great if you're actually looking to eventually become an airline pilot IMO.
 
connorc said:
Hi everyone,
I'm new here, and I thought this might be a good place to ask this question. This upcoming week, there is a big career fair at my college. There are tons of companies coming like Boeing, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, United Airlines (which I'm most interested in), etc. Currently I'm a freshman studying engineering with an intended specific major of aerospace engineering which I'll enter my junior year. That's how they do things here at Penn State University. Anyway I would love to get an internship with United (or another airline) and I'd love some advice from anyone who has maybe done this before.

My biggest flaw is that I'm a freshman. One of the programs they offer, is for aerospace engineering students that are sophomores or higher. Since I'd do this in the summer, I would be finished with my first year and technically be a sophomore but even then United would probably be more inclined to offer a spot to someone older. I want to make a great impression and hopefully land this. With some luck, all of that previously useless knowledge of airlines will finally pay off.

Any advice would be great! Thanks.
Click to expand...

The purpose of an internship is to get some practical experience applying what you've learned in school. If I've understood your post correctly, your not even a month into school. You haven't learned anything yet. That's why United and whoever else looks at upperclassmen. I think you'd be better off getting an aviation related job for the summer. When it comes time to apply for internships you'll have your coursework and some aviation work experience, making it more likely that you'll get the internship you want.
 
Do the United internship, like this guy said, they have internships besides flight ops.

I had a friend that I met during her UA internship in propulsion, she's now working at GE and had an offer from Pratt and Whitney as well.
 
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