Major: Electrical Engineering
Company: Nextern
Location of Internship: Maple Grove, MN
Internship Title: Test Engineer Intern
• Why did you choose the company that you work for?
I chose to work for Nextern because they work in the medical device industry which is the career path that I am interested in after college.
• What were some of the requirements for your internship?
Some of the requirements for my internship were basic electrical engineering concepts, some software/coding knowledge, and lab experience. These are all important because I do a lot of troubleshooting for my day-to-day work and these requirements made sure that I would be able to do this work.
• What is your favorite part about your internship experience?
My favorite part about my internship experience is the people that I get to work with. Everyone has something to teach me, and I’ve made some great connections in many different areas of my company.
• What is the most challenging part of your internship? How have you overcome these obstacles?
The most challenging part of my internship was coming up to speed on my project. The project I am assigned to is very big and in order to understand the end goal and how to accomplish it was hard. I overcame these obstacles by asking lots of questions to people involved in different aspects of the project.
• How did you find your internship?
Through a personal connection
• Why was it beneficial for you to register for credit(s) through the Internship Program offered through the Career and Advising Center?
It was beneficial to register for credit through the Internship Program because it allowed me to stay a full time student and keep my scholarships.
• What advice would you give a student who is in the process of searching and applying for an internship?
My advice to students would be to apply for internships that they think would be worth their time and give them the most meaningful experience. Try a variety of areas that you are interested in because this will help narrow down where you want to look after college, but also make sure that it is a company that is willing to teach you.
