Students’ Speak: Live projects during internships can boost the resume and ace top placement offers

By: Sachin Kuman Singh

Students from core engineering branches such as Civil should go for internships with good construction companies. Live training with popular highway or metro projects can help seal offers during placements drives with top-notch companies. Sachin Singh shares some interesting inputs on internships and placement preparation for Civil graduates.

Internships are an essential component of any engineering programme, irrespective of the college from where you are pursuing the course. You should take it seriously and not do it just for the sake of a certificate or grades, as it will definitely play a crucial role at the time of your interviews, during both on-campus or off-campus drives. If you take your internships seriously and you are punctual during that period then you will get to know how things are done practically as it is completely different what you perceive and what you have studied.

Particularly, for core branches such as Civil, you must try to do your internship from a good construction company as it will add to your experience. In engineering programs, you will have two chances of taking up internships, one at the end of the second year and another at the end of the third year. Focus to get into some live project at least which will be prepared for future challenges that you will encounter during a proper job.   

During your training duration—visit your site daily, prepare reports about different kinds of projects that are going on and different types of machinery & heavy equipment involved in that, try to relate the things which you have learned theoretically and clear the doubts from your guide assigned by the organisation.

At the end of your internship tenure, you will prepare a 15-20 pages detailed report with focus on the learning during your internship and will submit the same at your college alongside a PowerPoint presentation. So, if you take your internship seriously than you would be able to score a good grade with little effort.

If possible look for highway or metro projects as they are in demand nowadays. It will help you at the time of interview, since the interviewer will take interest if you have an understanding of how actually things work in the field. Particularly for core branches, companies look for people with prior experience and basic knowledge of the subject. The way you answer during the interview helps interviewers ascertain whether you have done the internship in the right manner or have merely arranged your certificate from somewhere. So, just avoid bluffing before them. If you are applying off-campus then the internship will add another dimension to your resume and help you get a call easily from a good company.

As in my case, I did my internship from TATA Steel Ltd in project division and the topic allotted was “Different project steps & its impact on the success of the project”. Many things also depend on the guide under whom you are assigned. Basically, if you show your interest and you are regular you will get to learn several things practically.

Off-campus placements often take place but it is not that easy to get through, as there will be students from different colleges like the pooled campus. However, if you have a reference, things become quite easy. So, in my opinion, work hard and try to get through campus placements. Just be ready with your basics and be clear about the topic on which you have prepared your report during your internship period.

About the Author:

Sachin Kuman Singh recently completed his Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering from KIIT, Bhubaneshwar. Currently, he is working with Simplex Infrastructures Limited as a Graduate Engineer Trainee. He is also a state-level athlete.