Starting an MSc in MSE and need career advice
Hi there! Quick background: I did a bachelor's in chemistry (north america) and I'm starting my MSc in Materials Science and Engineering (2 years duration - europe) this fall. Everything I've done so far has been academic research (2 projects- not related to materials), no actual industry experience in materials. I'm based in Europe (French nationality) but my end goal is working in the North American market eventually.
I'm trying to land a materials-related internship for next summer (and eventually a job after graduation) and I'm not sure how to compete with people who already have industry internships under their belt. My CV has experiences that shows clear communication and people skills, but nothing that reads as real technical or industry experience in materials. I'm worried a hiring manager sees no industry exposure and assumes I won't function well in a company, even if though I would say my science skills are pretty solid.
my questions are: how do I actually show my worth on a CV and in interviews when I don't have that experience to point to? What can I do beyond just saying I'm motivated, is there something concrete that actually lands with a hiring manager? Does research experience count if framed right, or do recruiters just discount it? Also, is it worth applying to big companies or should i focus on smaller ones?
Thanks for your help and would be happy to receive any advice :)