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Best way to get internships?
I am a high school junior and I was wondering what is the best way to get internships for computer science. Should I email companies around my area asking for a free internship?
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Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar questions. There are many aspects in Computer Science, e.g. development, system support, application support, hardware engineering, etc.
Below are my suggestions (I assume you would like to do programming work. Similar principle can apply to other disciplines) :
1. Try to learn some easy programming languages. There are plenty resources online. You can learn the syntax and structure of the programming languages and start doing your own programming.
2. Prepare your cv and highlight the programming languages you have learnt
3. Some corporate may run their internship program and host information session in the campus. You can keep an eye on the notice in career office. Alternatively, they may post the information in their portal. You can keep an eye on it as well.
4. If you have interest on particular corporate, you can consider to send your cv with an cover email explaining the reason why you have interest to work as intern for them
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions (I assume you would like to do programming work. Similar principle can apply to other disciplines) :
1. Try to learn some easy programming languages. There are plenty resources online. You can learn the syntax and structure of the programming languages and start doing your own programming.
2. Prepare your cv and highlight the programming languages you have learnt
3. Some corporate may run their internship program and host information session in the campus. You can keep an eye on the notice in career office. Alternatively, they may post the information in their portal. You can keep an eye on it as well.
4. If you have interest on particular corporate, you can consider to send your cv with an cover email explaining the reason why you have interest to work as intern for them
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Oscar’s Answer
It's great that you are starting to think about your career this early. There are many software/tech companies that have well established internship programs which you can look at, however they are usually for students 1-2 years into a computer science (or related) degree. However I would still encourage you to write to those companies and ask about what opportunities they offer for students. You may find that they can't offer you anything right now, but you may find out how soon you can begin applying for internships (it will vary by the company). Not to mention you can start building connections and networking by showing interest early on; a year or two later when you apply they may remember you!
That said, there is plenty you can do right now to improve your chances when the opportunities come, here's just a few things to consider:
* Practice your programming with mini projects, starts very small and slowly build up skills and a portfolio
* Learn competitive programming (leet code, hacker rank, etc.), you can practice in your own time or attend competitions
* Explore specialisations; what areas of computer science interest you, spend some time delving deeper into them (this could guide you on what companies you want to work for)
That said, there is plenty you can do right now to improve your chances when the opportunities come, here's just a few things to consider:
* Practice your programming with mini projects, starts very small and slowly build up skills and a portfolio
* Learn competitive programming (leet code, hacker rank, etc.), you can practice in your own time or attend competitions
* Explore specialisations; what areas of computer science interest you, spend some time delving deeper into them (this could guide you on what companies you want to work for)
Updated
Ehab’s Answer
Hello Oscar, the first action you should take is to contact your school counselor. They may be aware of existing programs within your high school or the wider school district that partner with local businesses or offer virtual opportunities. This could provide an easier pathway for you to get started. If such programs are already in place, inquire further. If not, ask your school district about any state programs you might be eligible for.
Should these options not be available, don't worry. The next step is to identify companies in your area that align with your interests and where your skills may be needed. How do you find out what skills they need? Simply visit the company's job board and see what positions they're aiming to fill.
Lastly, don't forget to make the most of your school courses. They're there to help you acquire the skills you need to be a compelling candidate. So, take full advantage of them to strengthen your chances.
Should these options not be available, don't worry. The next step is to identify companies in your area that align with your interests and where your skills may be needed. How do you find out what skills they need? Simply visit the company's job board and see what positions they're aiming to fill.
Lastly, don't forget to make the most of your school courses. They're there to help you acquire the skills you need to be a compelling candidate. So, take full advantage of them to strengthen your chances.
Updated
Luke’s Answer
There are other good answers here for the technical side. So for the search and contact with companies for internships, I'd suggest that both phone calls and emails work. Don't be afraid to make cold calls especially to smaller companies because they might not advertise the need for an intern even if they could use one. For emails, typically an introductory email with your background and your resume/CV attached is a good approach - but keep the email concise and leave it open to a follow up email and continued conversations.