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How should a CS major go through college?
What steps should a CS major take in college to ensure they have a meaningful internship?
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4 answers
Updated
Nick’s Answer
My top pieces of advice are:
1) Apply for internships early and often. Many big tech companies do their interviewing for summer internships in September - October, for the following year!
2) Intern with as many DIFFERENT companies as possible! Your first internship will be the hardest to get, but once you've interned with one company, other companies are going to be more likely to offer you an internship.
3) Treat your internship like a 3 month job interview. Always put your best foot forward, be honest and upfront about your progress and communicate when something is challenging. Companies view internships as a way to evaluate the way you work and how you learn. No one is expecting you to arrive as an expert on everything!
4) Remember that your work as an intern (probably) matters. The hardest part of going from School to Working is getting used to projects never really having an end date. Most of the time, your code will live on after you're gone and someone will need to maintain it or continue to improve it. With any luck, this might even be you if you're given a job offer to go back after you graduate!
As far as your classes and activities, your curriculum is usually pretty fixed for the first year or two and companies know that. Look for opportunities outside of class to participate in open source or student led projects. The more real code on Github or other platforms you can point to as your own, the more someone viewing your Resume will have to go on to distinguish you from other applicants.
1) Apply for internships early and often. Many big tech companies do their interviewing for summer internships in September - October, for the following year!
2) Intern with as many DIFFERENT companies as possible! Your first internship will be the hardest to get, but once you've interned with one company, other companies are going to be more likely to offer you an internship.
3) Treat your internship like a 3 month job interview. Always put your best foot forward, be honest and upfront about your progress and communicate when something is challenging. Companies view internships as a way to evaluate the way you work and how you learn. No one is expecting you to arrive as an expert on everything!
4) Remember that your work as an intern (probably) matters. The hardest part of going from School to Working is getting used to projects never really having an end date. Most of the time, your code will live on after you're gone and someone will need to maintain it or continue to improve it. With any luck, this might even be you if you're given a job offer to go back after you graduate!
As far as your classes and activities, your curriculum is usually pretty fixed for the first year or two and companies know that. Look for opportunities outside of class to participate in open source or student led projects. The more real code on Github or other platforms you can point to as your own, the more someone viewing your Resume will have to go on to distinguish you from other applicants.
I think this answer is terrific.
Dexter Arver
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hey William,
Do you have a mentor in that field? Create a Linkedin profile and after you're done search for your desired job in the state you live in or really any state. From there you can contact the person and let them know that you're interested in that particular field. Ask if they can provide you some insight into that career and if they had time to talk or you can just go back and forth with them.
If you're unsure of what types of jobs you can do as a CS major, use google and find videos and descriptions of the many things you can do as a CS major from there you can help find the role that interests you and you can also use to narrow down your internship search.
Here are some videos i just found on how to create Linkedin accounts
https://youtu.be/PCMwCbubzxk
https://youtu.be/LO970h-dc_A
Careers in CS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd8vFPkNbdU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjKXLce8Lxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNMBzhhf1s
Do you have a mentor in that field? Create a Linkedin profile and after you're done search for your desired job in the state you live in or really any state. From there you can contact the person and let them know that you're interested in that particular field. Ask if they can provide you some insight into that career and if they had time to talk or you can just go back and forth with them.
If you're unsure of what types of jobs you can do as a CS major, use google and find videos and descriptions of the many things you can do as a CS major from there you can help find the role that interests you and you can also use to narrow down your internship search.
Here are some videos i just found on how to create Linkedin accounts
https://youtu.be/PCMwCbubzxk
https://youtu.be/LO970h-dc_A
Careers in CS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd8vFPkNbdU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjKXLce8Lxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNMBzhhf1s
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad that you have taken CS major and would like to take an internship.
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many different careers in CS, eg Development, Application Support, System Support, Database Administration, Network Administration, etc. you may firstly find what aspect you have interest
2. Do you have a particular industry you would like to work or you would like to work in tech companies
3. After you have shortlisted the above, u you it can look intern opportunities to the relevant companies
4. Some companies may post the program on the website or they may do information session in the colleges
5. If any companies that you have particular interest, you can send your cv to their HR department to look for opportunities
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many different careers in CS, eg Development, Application Support, System Support, Database Administration, Network Administration, etc. you may firstly find what aspect you have interest
2. Do you have a particular industry you would like to work or you would like to work in tech companies
3. After you have shortlisted the above, u you it can look intern opportunities to the relevant companies
4. Some companies may post the program on the website or they may do information session in the colleges
5. If any companies that you have particular interest, you can send your cv to their HR department to look for opportunities
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Tim’s Answer
Make good grades. Apply early and often. Don't limit yourself only to certain types of companies, and by all means do not wait until your last semester to apply. It is a LOT harder to find a job after you graduate. While you're a student you have all sorts of resources, like access to career counseling and ability to apply for internships, that you won't have after you graduate.
Things like extracurriculars, don't really matter. Don't pollute your resume with hobbies and fraternity memberships. Clubs may be worth noting if they're related to your field of study or the business offering the internship.
Things like extracurriculars, don't really matter. Don't pollute your resume with hobbies and fraternity memberships. Clubs may be worth noting if they're related to your field of study or the business offering the internship.
Hi Tim, I have a clarifying question! Are you suggesting the student keep extracurriculars off their resume or that the student don't partake in them at all?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin