There are several steps to get a software developer internship as a college student. Often, students starting a tech career face obstacles jump starting their career. Indeed, many companies are looking for professionals who already have several years of experience. By getting an internship, students can earn this valuable experience while they’re still in school. As a college student, you need to know the best steps to get hired as a development intern. This way, you can gain experience and potentially secure a full-time job offer. Read on to learn about how to get a software developer internship as a college student.
Make Connections
First, you can make connections to land a software developer internship. To get started, you should create a profile on an online job posting and employer site. Notably, some of these platforms allow you to filter users by university alumni. With this approach, you’ll be able to find connections with the NYU Alumni Association. This way, you can see people who graduated from your school and where they are working. If you find someone who works at the company you’re interested in, you can request a 15-minute phone call with them. During this, you can ask about what it’s like to work for the company. Of course, you can also reach out to professors and advisors on campus for guidance. Often, they know past students and colleagues working in the industry.
Update Your Resume
Next, you should update your resume to land a software developer internship. Ideally, you should list any technical skills and programming languages you’ve learned in your courses. In addition, you can also put any frameworks and tools that you know how to use. For example, many top development companies use a JFrog kubernetes registry to provision their k8s cluster with charts and images. With this tool, they can gain insight and control on their code-to-cluster process. Simultaneously, they can collect and manage artifacts for their containerized app. This is key to streamline the development process. List all of the technical platforms, tools and frameworks that you are familiar with. In short, update your resume to reflect your skills and tool knowledge to stand out in the job application pool.
Create A Website
In addition, you should create a website to land your first software development internship. Ideally, you should feature at least three development projects. This way, potential employers can see the type of work you’ve done. When displaying your projects, you should include the project name and a brief description about what it’s designed to do. Additionally, you should include a thumbnail image highlighting a key software element. Ideally, users should be able to click on the image and project name. Then, the link should take them to a place they can use the software or view your code. Try to include projects you’re working on outside of school so employers can see drive and passion in your work.
Start Your Job Search
Once you have projects on your website, you should start your technology job search. Often, companies hire in waves during the fall season. Therefore, you should start your search in summer to find a position. To find job openings, you can create a profile on a job board site. Then, search for software positions in your area. Since COVID-19, many companies hire remote employees as well. This can expand which opportunities are available to you. Of course, you can also go to your campus career center for guidance finding an internship. Often, they know the best platforms for students to find jobs. Plus, they can offer tips on writing cover letters and resumes as well.
Prepare For Your Interview
Furthermore, you should prepare for your interview to get a software development internship. For example, you can write out basic elevator pitches for common questions. If an employer asks you to tell them about yourself, you can discuss your employment history, career goals, and past projects. You can also prepare real-life example and anecdotal stories ahead of your interview. This way, you can apply them to different questions during the interview. Of course, you should think about your strengths and how you’re working to overcome weaknesses. You can also think about times you’ve demonstrated leadership, worked as part of a team, and solved complex problems.
There are several important steps to get a software developer internship as a college student. First, you should make connections through your university or on job posting sites. Next, update your resume to reflect your latest skills and tool knowledge. In addition, create a website to showcase your best projects. Moreover, start your job search using the internet and campus resources to find open positions. Furthermore, prepare for your interview with practice questions. Follow these steps to get a software developer internship as a college student.