I wholeheartedly advocate co-ops or internships.
My story is pretty similar. I set out with a dream to work in the Automotive industry around the time I was 15-16. By the time I got to college I KNEW I had to be an engineer to ultimately do what I wanted to do, and make a position for myself. Most business markets are saturdated, so I focused on a more technical field. Come to fine I was really good at it.
About my sophomore year, I joined the Co-op program and was lucky enough to see that both Honda and Mercedes were on the list, as well as many automotive suppliers in the area. Living in the Southeast definitely helped me out with that. I interviewed and a few weeks later I had a paid co-op schedule with Mercedes-Benz working as a Process Design Engineer. I rotated every other semester with school and busted my ass and graduated in 4.5 years with a Mechanical Engineering Degree (with automotive focus and acedemics) + Cooperative Education degree.
I didnt have a job until 3 months after I graduated when Mercedes picked me up for a contractor position (MB-Tech, Mercedes' own contractor company) doing exactly what I was doing before, just in the other plant. I worked there for a while then as my contract was ending, Honda came out of nowhere and hired me full time as Quality Design Engineer (New Model and Market) and that's where I've been ever since. I'm also testing lead here, but that's just a subrole of the bigger scheme.
I set out with a dream and I achieved it. Now all I can do is go further into the rabbit hole and discover my true potential. Being 24, There is so much left to be filled. I've been trying to get a job with APR to move back to Auburn, AL so I can settle down and have kids, but they dont have any openings. I've also thought about starting my own company and/or getting my PHD and teaching engineering classes.
However, all that being said, I WOULD NOT be here if it wasnt for Co-op/Intership. If its paid all the power to you, if its not, find a second job and bust your ass to get some experience. We dont look at resumes here if they dont have some sort of experience related to the field and most companies are like that.
