Students can use three different methods to maximize your chances of finding an internship: 

1. Develop and use your own network of contacts;

2. Contact businesses directly that you might like to work for, and send your CV;

3. Visit Polytechnique's online internship and job management application, La Ruche, on a regular basis. It's also available in a mobile version.

As a student, whether you're looking for an internship, hunting for a job, seeking information on the job market or clarifying your career objectives, the Internship and Placement Office is available to help you in your process. “You can get coaching to prepare for hiring interviews, receive advice on job-hunting techniques, have your CV and cover letters revised, and obtain statistics on current salaries,” said Alan Doyle, Director of the Internship and Placement Office.

Although the process of finding an internship can be demanding in terms of time and energy, the results of two surveys conducted in summer 2014 show that internships generally work out extremely well. Fully 98.5% of employers said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall performance of Polytechnique interns. As for the interns themselves, 99.3% said they were mostly satisfied or very satisfied with the internship they undertook in summer 2014. For more information, read the survey report Comment les étudiants ont apprécié leur stage obligatoire à l'été 2014? (in French only).

Doing one or more corporate internships allows students to measure their competencies in real-life engineering situations, and also to explore and learn about different types of jobs and workplaces that match with their field of study. These experiences help you learn about yourself, which in turn helps you make more enlightened job choices when you embark on your career. Polytechnique students can also take on internships abroad, which give you clear added value when you hit the job market.

See also:
Internship opportunities and services provided by the Service des stages et du placement  (in French only)
Student and employer testimonials (in French only)
La Ruche, online application for internship and job postings and offer management