Hi, I am a sophomore electrical engineering student and it is a HUGE goal of mine to work at General Motors or Ford. I really need advice on how I could get an internship there this summer or in my junior year. I have a good gpa (3.5+), I was previously an intern as a controls designer at a supplier, and I am on my school's formula electric team. These are all things that people/forums have been telling me should help me. Also, the recruiters from other companies at career fairs like my resume and think it is good, but I am having no luck with GM or Ford. If I don't get anything this year, what should I be doing this summer other than working at another automotive company? Please give me any advice I will appreciate it. #hardware #advice #auto #GM #Ford
Ford and GM, there will be lot oldies trying to control. Checkout the e-mobility companies from whom Ford and GM buys the parts. That's where you will truly be able to work on Controls engineering.
Thank you, I'll check them out.
Where do they buy from
OP are you messaging Ford and GM recruiters directly on LinkedIn? If not start there. There's really no limit on how many people you can message with a short ask on LinkedIn. Worst they can say is no
That’s true, thank you I’ll start doing that.
Get out of your comfort zone while young. You are likely born/ raised in midwest by the midwest culture that uses passive aggressiveness to guilt kids into staying. Go work on east or west coast for automotive or aerospace, confirm you hate it, then come back to Michigan to work the rest of your life. (Reality is most of those who do this never come back)
Yup gotta go out of box. But aero man... they are on crazy development time tho. It will be so boring.
just stick w FSAE. if you're sophomore now, you'll have 3yrs of FSAE when you graduate. you're on right track. I was in FSAE. pretty much all the guys that wanted to ended up at a mfg or race team and we were a brand new team at no name school. FSAE should get you there. if you already live in Detroit then go to competition in May and talk to people at company booths. lot of people pick up internships there. Ford and gm both have giant booths and there's tons of reps walking around for everyone
So you’re saying they would offer out an internship during the competition even though it’s already summer?
I'm not ee so not sure about path but GM / Ford isn't anything special. I say stay close to battery or adas system. Those are future for sure. I been to all big 3 and GM was best one. Auto has that up down cycle for every 10 years. They do layoff on those 10 year cycles. Once you do the auto tho you are stuck with it. It's not bad to have different experience unless you are car enthusiast.
I currently work at GM and have a degree in electrical engineering. Feel free to dm me and I can take a look at your resume and give some pointers. I'd suggest if you can't get into GM/Ford for an internship to start at suppliers for internships. I got picked up by a Japanese OEM after college because I had worked at the supplier for their new electronic module as an intern
Sent DM
If you love cars, Auto Industry is great. Id highly recommend working at suppliers first before beginning a longer term career at an OEM. You learn a lot more when you’re part of a smaller team, and they have a much stronger incentive to teach you the technical stuff. Only join GM as your final destination, since you can take things a bit easier and enjoy the higher pay relative to the other OEMs and suppliers. GM is by far the best OEM, considering pay, WLB and culture. I had a miserable experience at Ford, and so did all of my friends and relatives who worked there. Ford paid me 🥜 compared to GM, and the culture at Ford is extremely toxic and depressing. Stellantis pay is good but the work environment is an erratic mess.
In regards to interviews, the best advice I can give is to BE PERSONABLE!! I don’t care how smart or experienced you are - nobody wants to work with a shy, awkward, or annoying person. Smile a lot, make jokes, laugh, and be confident. In reality, not many people are making groundbreaking technical achievements in automotive anymore, so most of the real work nowadays is limited to being a good people person and communicator, and that is what most employers look for.
Your suggestion implies an emphasis on "management" type person. Then I'm curious who is really doing the real technical work at GM
Do a university internship program with a gm or ford supplier. Makes the entire process of getting in easier with both companies .
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I am really curious why is that super critical for you to be in those two companies. The pay is shit and work is pretty blah. And most of the positions are in Detroit metro area (which is not a desirable place to live)
I live in the metro Detroit area, and I'm excited with both of their plans for electrification/future products. Also, my parents are older and I want to spend some more time with them while I can.
GM has been planning since 2016 and they are on a slippery slope as far as electric cars are concerned. Coming to your original question, it depends where you land up in automotive industry. GM doesn’t make a lot of stuff nor does ford. It’s made by Harman, Bosch, etc. you might wanna target them.