Getting an Internship

Advice on getting a student internship in the tech industry.

The Process

• It’s going to be a lot of work, much of it repetitive and seemingly stupid. Knuckle down and get it done, don’t whine.
• Do some basic research about a company before you apply.
  • Search their website for information about internships & recruiting.
• Expect to apply to many companies, possibly dozens. Don’t limit yourself.
• Have all your documents and resources lined up before you start the application process.
  • Resume
  • Transcripts
  • Faculty contacts and references
• Read instructions carefully and follow them. Don’t try to take shortcuts.
• Your school probably has a career counseling office with all kinds of useful resources. Take advantage of that.
• The tech industry is rich, don’t accept an unpaid internship in a for-profit company.

Basic Communication Tips

• Be prompt when replying and stay on top of the process.
• Write intelligently and clearly in full sentences.
  • Don’t bury the lede.
  • Don’t ask questions that a basic Google search could answer for you.
• Read over everything you write and edit it for clarity, spelling, and grammar before you send it.
• Do not use Chat GPT to write any of your documents or correspondence.
• Have at least one friend read over your resume and look for mistakes.
• Don’t hesitate to contact the company’s recruiting folks with (smart and well phrased) questions.

Interviews and Talking to Real Humans

• Do your research beforehand.
  • Read the Wikipedia page about the company.
  • Know what market(s) the company is in and how they fit in
  • Spend some time reading the company’s website.
    • The “About Us” section
    • Look at the products and the way they present them
  • Look up recent news about the company
• Learn about the industry you’re trying to get into
  • Who are the major players?
  • Who are the customers?
  • Is there industry drama, legal or regulatory churn, lawsuits?
• Be ready to talk and answer questions about yourself.
  • What you are studying and what you like about it
  • Previous work experience
  • Hobbies
  • Goals
  • Think about this stuff ahead of time; have some semi-prepared answers so you don’t sit there like a deer in the headlights.
• If you’re really nervous about interviewing get someone to do a mock interview (the career counseling office probably offers this).

Personal Presentation

• Look professional. You don’t have to wear a suit, but don’t show up looking like you just rolled out of bed.
  • Bathe, brush, shave, groom, etc.
  • Wear “business casual” clothing that’s in good condition.
  • You don’t have to be a drone. It’s OK to have blue hair, religious garb, piercings, etc., just make sure you look “put together”.
• Act professional. You’re trying to make it clear that you know how to function in the workplace.
• Don’t show up late
  • If it’s an in-person interview you should look up directions the night before, and use the “arrive by” feature to figure out how long the trip will likely take given predicted traffic.
• Don’t be hung over
• If you’re sick, call and cancel the interview. Giving the interviewer a disease is not going to score you points.

Video Interviews

• Video meetings use a lot of battery; plug in your device before you start or make sure it’s fully charged.
• It’s best to have the camera level with your face; try not to look down at it.
• Put the camera (phone, tablet, laptop) on a stable surface; don’t hold it in your hand.
• Don’t sit with your back to a window or other bright light source. Make sure your face is well lit.
• Use the “blur background” feature if possible. If not, make sure there’s nothing distracting behind you.
• Speak a bit more slowly and clearly than usual.
• Minimize background noise. Turn off the TV and the stereo, close the windows, keep barking dogs, drunk roommates, and crying babies out of the room.