Internships have become a bridge between the study and professional worlds, allowing developers to apply their skills and gain practical experience. And what better way to kick-start your career than by entering an internship with a top-tier company?
In this article, we delve deeper into the importance of internships and unveil the best companies that can shape your future and pave the way for a great career in software development.
How to Choose a Good Software Developer Internship
When selecting the developer internship to land, it's essential to consider several factors.
Reputation and industry recognition. Look for companies with a good reputation and recognition within the software development industry. Well-known companies often provide a high-quality internship experience and offer valuable learning opportunities.
Mentorship programs. If you feel unconfident in your skills, choose companies that offer mentorship and guidance for interns. A mentorship program can provide enhanced support and valuable feedback. Mentors can also offer the latest industry insights, share their expertise, and help you complete your internship journey successfully.
Project quality and variety. Assess the type of projects you'll be involved in. Seek companies that offer challenging and meaningful projects that align with your interests and skills. Also, remember that engaging in diverse projects may expose you to different technologies and methodologies.
Company culture. A positive culture fosters a supportive and collaborative atmosphere, significantly enhancing learning and growth. Research employee reviews, testimonials, and company values to determine if the overall culture aligns with your preferences.
Development opportunities. Explore the learning opportunities available during the internship. Companies investing in training, workshops, conferences, and skill-building programs will support and enhance your professional development.
Networking potential. Evaluate the networking potential of the company. Interning at a company with an extended professional network can lead to valuable connections and potential job opportunities.
Post-internship employment prospects. Consider companies that may hire interns as full-time employees. This can potentially open doors for your future employment opportunities.
Last but not least, remember to research and read reviews of the company you will attend. If possible, it's also an excellent idea to reach out to current or former interns. These connections can help you gain insights into their experiences with the company.
Top 10 Global Internship Companies
Based on the mentioned criteria, we’ve narrowed down the list of the companies that ensure the best internship experience for future software developers:
Google offers many engineering and technical internships to provide hands-on experience on real-world projects. Interns work closely with famous engineers, receive mentorship, and gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
Minimum qualifications for software engineer apprenticeships may vary from experience in coding in any language to Bachelor’s or PhD degrees in CS.
These internships are not exhaustive but provide a taste of what's available. – Google
Microsoft also has numerous internship programs, providing interns with opportunities to work on impactful projects. The programs focus on professional development, networking, and collaboration with industry-leading professionals.
The available programs at Microsoft for interns last from 4 to 12 weeks and are targeted at college students.
Our internship experience brings interns from around the world together to connect, collaborate, and co-create virtually to make a difference and impact the world. – Microsoft
Meta's internship programs immerse developers in a dynamic work environment, allowing them to complete challenging projects and collaborate with world-class tutors and experts in the field. The program also offers mentorship, networking events, and the chance to make a meaningful impact.
The internships are targeted at university and PhD graduates.
Our interns and people who join Meta early in their careers are pivotal in shaping our future. – Facebook
Amazon's internship programs offer internships in software development, machine learning, and other technical areas. Participants will gain a comprehensive onboarding experience and wrap up their internship program with a presentation of their project to Amazon employees.
Interns do work that makes a big impact – diving into products, programs, and services that touch millions of customers. – Amazon
Apple's internship programs allow interns to work on innovative projects and collaborate with experienced engineers. In addition, interns will receive mentorship and have an opportunity to get acquainted with Apple's diverse range of technologies.
Come to Apple as a student, and your team will welcome you as a full contributor, like any other employee. – Apple
Just like other companies, IBM offers a range of internship programs in software development, AI, robotics and automation, data science, cybersecurity, and other technical spheres. Interns become a part of cutting-edge projects, receive tutorship, and have access to IBM's rich resources.
From day one, you'll be involved in awesome projects, all while making big contributions. – IBM
Intel boasts one of the broadest range of internship programs in areas like computing, AI, software, industry standards, 5G, networking, the cloud, and others. The company gives interns access to impactful projects and lets them collaborate with industry experts.
Critical projects on day one. A huge network. Incredible opportunities to make a real difference. – Intel
Adobe's internships give developers an opportunity to work on innovative projects in areas like web development, user experience design, digital marketing, and more. In addition, interns receive mentorship and participate in networking events.
Our interns work on meaningful projects with major impact. – Adobe
Cisco's internship program covers the fields of software engineering, cybersecurity, networking, and some other technical areas. Interns work on real-world projects and soak experience from industry professionals.
Emerging Talent at Cisco helps you gain relevant experience to develop your career and inspire innovation in your team and the world. – Cisco
Salesforce periodically launches fun internship programs that include sporting events, city tours, wellness activities, and delicious food. Developers can choose programs in software engineering, AI, and cloud computing. With that, interns contribute to Salesforce's innovative solutions.
Through our programs, interns have unprecedented access to our Salesforce leadership team. – Salesforce
Other sources to search for Software Engineer Apprenticeships and Entry-level Positions
Popular job sites and social networks may also be helpful in the search for internship / entry-level positions in development. Consider these platforms to get access to a broader number of internships in your region:
Top Tips and Skills Needed for Applying to an Internship
To maximize your chances of landing an internship program, you should develop both technical and soft skills. Some essential skills include multitasking, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, knowledge of programming language, database management skills, knowledge of operating systems, ability to perform testing procedures, and interpersonal skills.
Additionally, you should be proactive, as big companies are more likely to turn attention to you if they see you're farsighted about your career.
Checklist: Prepare for an Internship as a Software Developer
1. Craft a strong resume
It's essential to make a professional resume that covers your relevant coursework, skill set, and experience, if any.
A hint: review the intern position description and include keywords from it in your resume. If you have relevant certifications, mention them on your resume, too.
Don’t be intimidated if you find internships that strictly require the CS degree — that’s not the case for every company. Some of them value more the development experience and practical knowledge.
A professional-looking portfolio will show your skills and give a better understanding of your expertise as a software developer. In your portfolio, you may showcase projects they worked on during the CodeGym course or add others you've accomplished.
Read more: Writing a resume on GitHub. A short guide
3. Add a cover letter
Writing one can boost your chances of getting hired for a desirable internship position. List your unique skills and highlight your professional goals in a cover letter.
The typical structure of a Cover Letter:
Introduction (1st paragraph)
Start with declaring the purpose of your letter, and a short professional introduction.
Highlight the reason why you’re interested in this position.
Make an overview of the main strengths and skills that may benefit the position mentioned.
Body (2-3 paragraphs)
Mention a couple of examples from your experience that prove your ability to succeed in the position mentioned.
Don’t recite your resume; provide details about your key experiences.
Connect your skillset with the requirements for the targeted role.
Closing (last paragraph)
Aptly restate your interest in the role and why you are a perfect match.
Leave “a hook” that shows your willingness to further communication.
Thank the reader for their time and consideration.
4. Prepare for the interview process
For getting an internship, a company will require you to complete a technical interview to evaluate your skills. They may provide coding challenges to evaluate your ability to code. So, when applying for an internship position, it would be wise to prepare for commonly-asked interview questions.
Preparing in advance will help you feel more confident during the actual interview process.
Also, remember that interviewing is a two-way process, and it's ok if you're also questioning the employer. Ensure you know the company you're applying for and what they do. We recommend you go through their official website or follow them on social media platforms.
Conclusion
Internships may be pivotal in your career growth, providing valuable practical experience, networking opportunities, and skill development. Luckily, nowadays, even tech giants offer numerous internship programs that expose developers to real projects and the newest technologies.
To increase your chances of securing internships with top companies, CodeGym can help you acquire essential skills, learn new frameworks, strengthen your profile with a few projects in your portfolio, and even prepare for an interview. A great starting point for your software developer career, indeed.
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