Qualifications for Summer Internships?

DMBeiler asks: "I'm a first year computer-science student, with a lot of computing background. I learned C++ in the curriculum here, but am also familiar with Perl, PHP, and know my way around Linux. I consider myself adept enough to pick up a working knowledge of a language fairly quickly. As an underclassman, with little formal training, do any jobs/internships exist for me, say, over the summer? What do I need to bring to the table to be considered for even a menial position, these days?"

Comments

Skip the internship thing...

[__aaclcg7560]

Try going for a job instead of a internship. Having an internship on your school record or resume may look good to school officials and some business types, but real work experience counts a lot more.

Re:Skip the internship thing...

[SeeMyNuts!]

I thought being an "intern" didn't specifically mean whether the job was real or not or paid or not. All my summer internships during high school and college were paid, except one summer that was a volunteer job. The paid internships were working for a Fortune 500 company and a university actually doing useful work towards their bottom line. Of course, YMMV, as some other interns at these places really were photocopier jockies or gophers. One internship even resulted in a very nice job offer.

As far as qualifications go, I think simply being in a relevant degree program is enough. People hiring summer interns don't expect 20 years of .NET experience. In reality, they are hiring interns as a 3-month interview process that is more reliable than a 30 minute chat. Often, a telephone interview is enough to get an offer for an internship.

Re:Skip the internship thing...

[Lord_Dweomer]

"Try going for a job instead of a internship. Having an internship on your school record or resume may look good to school officials and some business types, but real work experience counts a lot more."

While I agree with the parent that real work experience counts for a lot, what the parent doesn't mention is the fact that in todays business world, unless you are EXTREMELY lucky, have the right connections, or are just that good your resume will get tossed out the second they see you don't have any actual related experience.

You see, internships are all about gaining real world experience, for the most part while you're in college (some people do internships during highschool or after college to get their foot in the door).

As someone with a lot of experience interning...let me explain how it works...

You have little to no REAL experience (being a student doesn't exactly count unless you're a masters student)...thus you will be getting little to zero pay in exchange for getting a chance to get some real world experience to bolster your resume. Now, this may seem like a kinda crappy deal, until you realize that not only is it one of the best networking experiences most college students get...it also gets your foot in the door at the company you intern at.

I personally had two internships, both at prestidigious ad agencies (i'm in advertising), one of which resulted in a job offer (which I turned down since I went to school in another state and wanted to complete my education), and the other was just such a good place that it looks amazing on my resume to show employers "Hey, I'm good, I was able to get in at XYZ". Of course...interns aren't expected to really do much, but it gives you a leg up.

My current job started as a paid internship, and I quickly gained more responsibilities once I had proven myself.

So...I hope that clarifies just how important internships are. Yes, if you can land a job, by all means do so! But unless you're fairly confident you'll get it, don't waste your time applying for a position where you have a slim to nil chance of being accepted and instead shoot for the internship where you have better odds.

Now, I said all this to address the parent...I feel the story submitter knows all of this, and was merely looking for an answer as to whether or not his current skillset is competitive in today's cutthroat world of internship hunting. Unfortunately, I can't answer that. But remember, business is 20% WHAT you know, and 80% WHO you know. That internship I just bragged about that looks great on my resume (and was a FANTASTIC experience)...well, ultimately I had to back it up with skill, but I never even would have gotten an interview if it hadn't been for my industry connections, which basically led to me getting a VERY enthusiastic call from the HR person to ask when I'd like to interview (remember, HR is supposedly the black tar pit of resumes). Networking is just about everything when you don't have much real world experience. Remember that and you'll be bound to get in somewhere.

From an Apple intern

[NetDrain]

I've interned approximately 10 months for Apple computer (EE for the Mac Mini in 2004), and been on two recruiting events to my college during that time, taking resumés (but not doing any interviews). From the recruiting side you quickly find that everyone's resumé looks exactly the same as everyone else: you all have the same courses, projects, and skills in programming languages and the like.

What I want to see is you telling me why I should hire you -- why should I push this resumé to the hiring manager with a "we've got to hire this kid." What makes you different? We all know you want to work for us -- you wouldn't have been in line giving me your resumé otherwise. If you give me the impression that you're not full-out gung-ho for the position, I'm not even going to consider you.

I want to see things like what you do in your free time: do you have a life? But I don't want to see someone who only does extracurricular activities. Do you surf and play in a band, say, but also work on some really neat [EE/CS] projects at the same time? Can you balance school/fun/hobbies? Do you have personal drive and a spark of intelligence? If you're bright and driven, we can teach you anything you need to know. That's far more important than simply knowing many things. Tell me something cool you've done. Impress me. Make me want to see you come work for us.

Even more interesting is being in the college at which you're recruiting: you can see everyone taking the same classes you've taken, doing the same projects and trying to pass it off as if it's unique. Hey, kid: I did that last quarter. In fact, you were in my section and goofed off half the time; or perhaps you're the guy who took the easy route on that project while I busted my ass doing it the hard way. I don't think so.

Don't be disappointed if you don't get anything your first year: Many do not. Don't, however, waste your time. Do -something- related to your major and expected career. Make up some project for yourself and do it, and do it well. Work for free for a company as long as it's giving yourself some valuable experience. In other words, do -anything- to differentiate yourself in a positive light and make me remember you. I went through 60 resumés in 6 hours at one career fair, and I can't remember 2/3 of the people I talked to. The only ones I remember are those who made an impression.

Good luck! I'll be at Google and http://www.pasemi.com/ this summer/fall (have to see more of the world before I graduate and pick a permanent career). Once you have experience in one job, the next come much, much easier.

Re:Internship?

[M. Baranczak]

Minimum 10 years experience in Windows 2000 and a valid tractor-trailer license. $9.00/hour. Apply within. We are a drug-free workplace.

Re:Back in the old days...

[bigjoeystud]

As someone who actively hires interns, a portfolio of work you've done is what sets you apart in my mind. Even if its homework that you are particularly proud of, it can make a difference. If you can network with someone not in HR, that's better than knowing someone in HR. HR can not get you a job, they can only prevent you from getting one, unless you are looking for a job in HR of course...