How to Land Your First Software Developer Internship

Finding your first software developer internship can be challenging, but it's crucial for jumpstarting a competitive technical career. With proper planning, you can excel in the application process and become a strong candidate. This guide outlines strategies for students who are ready to search and land software developer internships. Based on CodePath’s years of experience working with employers and students, it covers what recruiters tend to look for and ways to create a strong impression. 

We will discuss preparations before applying, where to seek out these key internships, and effective ways to get ready for interviews. In the end, you will have the knowledge needed to pursue your internships confidently, helping to further your growth in the industry. 

The Value of Software Developer Internships

Software developer internships are critical programs for both college students and tech employers. Employers tend to seek candidates with real-world experience, and internships can dramatically boost employability. Statistics say that 73% of students with internships receive a full-time job offer, which shows how valuable these experiences can be.

Internships provide great real-world expertise. As interns, students work on real projects, contributing to a company’s business goals while improving their own skills. This experience helps build confidence and the technical skills needed for future jobs, which are both vital when starting a career.

Along with technical skill development, software developer internships let interns network. They meet many engineering professionals in their field, which may open doors to mentorships and connections that help in job searches. Networking can also provide leads for job offers and referrals later, making these relationships key.

As we move on to the next part, know that landing a software developer internship requires the right qualifications and preparation. 

Essential Preparations Before Applying

Landing your first software developer internship needs thorough preparations. Understanding focus areas in this phase can improve your chances. Here’s a guide on what to do prior to starting your applications for software developer internships.

1. Start the search early

The earlier you begin the process, the higher the chances you will succeed in landing your first software developer internship. Many students often don’t realize that the application funnel can be more challenging than you might initially expect. It’s not uncommon for students to apply to more than 100 different companies for summer software engineering internship positions, and only receive 8-10 phone interviews, and then 4-5 to advance to an on-site interview. You will not hear back from half the companies you apply to. The most important thing is to start early, apply to enough places, and continuously work on it to land your best options. Do not give up!

First, self-assess your skills and interests. Identifying strengths and weaknesses can align your abilities with internship options. Reflect on the programming languages you use best and any interesting projects you have tackled. This self-awareness helps you target internships that challenge you while aligning with your skills.

You can also start by listing all the companies whose products you used or enjoyed, and then search “software engineering intern” or “software developer intern” on the sites. Make a list of the companies or posts that sound interesting and ignite your passion.

2. Apply to technical internship programs for freshmen and sophomores

For students who are earlier in their CS journeys, use this to your advantage and apply to programs that are catered toward first and second-year students. Many major tech companies, offer programs such as Meta University, which are designed to provide students with technical skill development and professional work experience. Interns work on projects ranging from AI and product design to software development and data analytics. Salesforce’s Futureforce Tech Launch program offers rising juniors a work and learning progam in full-stack web development. Students work out of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and are assigned a 1:1 mentor, who is a professional software engineer at Salesforce. Students who complete these programs with high marks will often receive return offers from the sponsoring companies as software engineering or developer interns.

3. Practice and master technical interviews

Technical interviews are one of the most daunting challenges for emerging and experienced software engineers. Designed to assess a candidate’s problem-solving ability and communication skills, technical interviews are usually one of the biggest barriers that keep students out of the industry (if not enough practice and preparation is done). Students who successfully learn to tackle challenging algorithmic problems often go on to land the most competitive software engineering roles. Be sure to prepare for technical interviews early in your CS journey. CodePath offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level technical interview prep courses to college students throughout the year, including interview practice, coaching from industry mentors, and workshops with senior software engineers. 

4. Leverage Personal Projects and Experiences

Side projects outside of class work can be an excellent way to differentiate yourself from other candidates when searching for software developer internships. Projects can include:

• Taking CodePath courses where you get to build hands-on projects
• Building web applications that you can share around and link as a project you built (not just a site but something storing data that people can play around with)
• Developing a functional iOS or Android app around an idea and executing it all the way to publishing on the App Store or Play Store (bonus points if you acquire users!)
• Participating in a hackathon and building a prototype of any web or mobile project with a team of developers
• If your university supports this, getting involved with research projects, i.e. AI / Machine Learning, Ubiquitous Computing, Data Science / Visualization, etc., whatever you are drawn to learn more about
• Contributing in small ways to open-source projects to build up your real-world skills and learn from top engineers in the industry

We recommend doing a side project that you’re passionate about. It will be a lot more enjoyable. Finally, be sure to create a GitHub profile to showcase your projects and keep clear documentation. A well-managed GitHub profile is a living resume, offering insight into your coding methods and skills and attracting employers for internship consideration.

5. Network, network, network

Meeting people and leveraging your connections is the fastest way to speed up your software developer internship search process. It is said that 70% of jobs come from networking, emphasizing its importance. Be sure to forge strong connections with fellow alumni, friends/classmates, friends of friends, and other professional engineers you come across throughout your CS journey. The larger your network, the easier it will be for you to land that dream software job. Tools such as LinkedIn will be critical for you to connect with industry professionals. Joining communities and going to meetups can lead to personal connections. Finally, participating in mentorship programs and meeting software engineers who have done this before, will be instrumental in helping you navigate the way.

Don't Give Up - You Got This!

Getting your first software developer internship is a big step in your career path. With early preparations, practice, and tenacity, every action you take will bring you nearer to that dream software developer internship. Stay motivated and learn more, as each application provides useful lessons. Take this journey seriously, and soon, you will be on the road to a great career in software development!