International Students
International students may be eligible to work off-campus, or through an internship, while enrolled in a degree program. Once graduated, eligible international students may also work off-campus or in an internship.
MOREStudents
The Department of Mechanical Engineering plans several great events geared towards helping you successfully secure internship and full-time positions - including employer visits and alumni events.
Be sure to explore and utilize the information we have assembled for your benefit, including resume and cover letter samples/templates, job search tips, and other valuable resources.
CCE Resources
The Center for Career Education (CCE) works with Columbia Engineering undergraduate and graduate students and alumni to help them define career goals and gain meaningful work experiences through:
- LionSHARE internship/jobs database
- Domestic and international internship programs, including the Science Technology Engineering Program (STEP)
- Career Fairs - Engineering Consortium Career Fair/Networking Reception, Start-up Career Fair, Fall & Spring Career Fairs
- Alumni Connections and Networking Events, including Engineering Student-Alumni Speed Networking, Columbia Career Connections on LinkedIn, Employer Site Visits, and Professionals in Residence
- Individual career counseling, workshops, and online resources to help with internship/job applications, interviewing, networking, negotiations, and the decision to pursue graduate school
- Engineering industry-specific resources covering career paths, employers, professional associations, internship/job sites, and research opportunities
Part-Time Positions for Students
The department has a number of part-time academic positions that are open to students each semester:
Grader (GR)
Roughly 10 hrs./week, primarily dealing with homework assignments. Applications are accepted at the start of each semester and searched for candidates as instructors request graders, so the hiring process continues throughout the semester. Generally filled by MS students. Compensation consists of a bi-weekly payroll.
Course Assistant (CA)
Roughly 10-15 hrs./week, including interaction with students. Applications are accepted at the start of each semester with students who have the particular type of experience needed each semester. Generally filled by MS students. Compensation is larger than that for a grader.
Application Process
To apply submit this short online application. The number of open positions each semester is relatively small, but the form is simple and anyone interested is encouraged to place their name in the applicant pool. The forms are used to help find potential matching candidates when positions arise. If you get a follow-up response, it will likely be by the third week of the semester as enrollment numbers settle. But searches do occasionally occur later if a course is determined to need extra help at that time, so there is no clear end to the hiring process. Please submit a new application for each semester any time between early registration and the start of classes.