Academic Chemist to Chemical Engineer Internship Applications
Using an alt account because my main is tied to my job.
I'm a chemistry professor and stockroom head at a university. While we can get into the fact that I should have listened to my father when he told me to go into chemical engineering in the first place, I did not listen and took the chemistry route. Having finally come around to the fact that dad was right the whole time, I'm now working on an engineering degree. I have summers off from work and would be able to do an internship over the next 2-3 summers, depending on how long it takes to finish the degree. I could probably do it faster if I wasn't working 50 hours a week.
My current dilemma is that I don't know how to really present myself as a serious candidate. I want people to understand that I'm trying to make a career change in the near-future, but I am worried that my application could come across as someone who is addicted to education and just looking to fill summers. There also aren't places for cover letters on most applications where I can explain. I did my first application yesterday evening and before 24 hours were even up I was rejected. I know I'm not going to get them all, but that stings a bit since it's the first one.
Any advice for those of us trying to change careers?