How crucial are internships in the tech industry for career advancement? Data from 2020-2021 shows that 70% of companies offer full-time positions to their interns.
The same data highlights that starting an internship can often lead to higher pay. In the tech industry, internships are particularly valuable, as hands-on experience is highly regarded by employers when evaluating candidates.
Not only can internships lead to full-time roles, but having one can also increase the chances of securing additional internship opportunities.
As reported by Monster.com, the “new reality of technology internships” is that many IT graduates are accepting both paid and unpaid internships to gain experience and launch their careers. Additionally, IT students are increasingly expected to pursue internships as part of their education, as this is becoming a standard expectation in the tech industry.
While many students and recent graduates focus on securing internships at top tech companies, it’s important to recognize that internships at nonprofits or unpaid positions also provide valuable experience.
These opportunities should not be overlooked. From networking to gaining hands-on experience and job-search skills, tech internships are proven to offer long-term benefits to those who dedicate time and effort to securing them.
Now that it’s clear that internships are nearly essential for entering the tech industry, you may be asking: What types of tech internships are available? Which companies offer paid internships? What are some notable unpaid tech internships? And how do you apply for a tech internship?
Major tech companies like Google and Microsoft are offering internships to first- and second-year students.
This highlights the increasing value of tech internships, as more individuals entering or studying to enter the field recognize how important these opportunities are for their careers.
According to Zippia, nearly 264,000 technology interns were employed in the United States as of December 2021, earning an average annual salary of $32,675.
This figure does not include unpaid internships.
Types of Tech Internships
Tech internships span a variety of IT careers, from front-end and back-end engineering to mobile and software development. These internships can be paid, unpaid, or even remote, with remote opportunities becoming more common, especially following the pandemic.
While some internships in the past might have involved basic tasks like fetching coffee, today’s tech internships offer more substantial roles. Interns are now often directly involved in tech development projects, including areas like data security, data analysis, and software engineering, allowing them to build valuable job skills.
According to an April 2021 article by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the tech industry offers some of the highest-paying internships. The article highlighted NVIDIA, a hardware and software developer, as having the top-paying tech internship program in the country. Interns at NVIDIA can earn more than $8,000 per month.
Other companies known for their high-paying tech internship opportunities are:
Internships at these companies typically offer compensation ranging from $7,000 to $8,000 per month. They also provide valuable hands-on experience in fields such as software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, hardware engineering, IT operations, cybersecurity, cloud computing, technical support, and tech research.
That said, successful tech internships can also be found at smaller or start-up companies. In these environments, competition may be less intense, though tech internships overall remain highly competitive.
In a smaller company, compared to large tech giants, you might have the opportunity to take on a more active role in tech projects and potentially even hold a leadership position. You’ll likely be more visible to management and may have the chance to work directly with senior managers and executives. This increased exposure can significantly enhance your networking opportunities, which are crucial for securing full-time positions.
While paid internships are common in the tech industry, there are also options for those who don’t secure one at a major or start-up tech company. Students pursuing IT-related degrees may find paid or unpaid for-credit internships through their academic institution.
These internships can be full-time (20-35 hours per week) or part-time (about 20 hours or less per week, with some as low as 10 hours per week), and they are typically offered over a semester or during the summer.
In certain bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in technology, internships or externships are a mandatory part of the curriculum. In some cases, students can opt for an internship instead of an independent study or take it as an elective. It is also common for companies to offer full-time or permanent positions to interns or externs who complete their programs successfully.
How to Apply for a Tech Internship
Before explaining how to apply for a tech internship, it’s important to address the question: When should you apply for one?
The best answer is: start early. Given the high level of competition for tech internships, even at start-up companies, applying early increases your chances.
If you’re working toward a degree, begin exploring internship opportunities while still in school. Take advantage of your school’s resources to learn which tech companies are seeking interns; many colleges and universities offer support in finding internships.
Colleges may also host career fairs, providing a chance to meet recruiters and hiring managers in person and discuss internship opportunities.
You can also search for tech internships on popular job sites like Indeed and Monster.com. If you have a particular company in mind, check their website for internship opportunities. If the company doesn’t typically offer internships, consider sending a cover letter expressing your interest and willingness to undertake an internship as a step toward full-time employment.
Applying for a tech internship is similar to applying for a job with a tech company. Once you’ve researched companies offering tech internships and identified those you’re most interested in, submit your resume and cover letter. Be prepared to send out several applications to receive a few offers. Include links to your LinkedIn profile or personal website, and highlight any relevant tech projects you’ve worked on, whether for school, community organizations, or nonprofits.
Once you receive a positive response, you’ll likely be invited for an interview. After successfully completing the interview, you may receive an offer. It’s then up to you to decide whether to accept or decline the offer.
What Does a Tech Internship Involve?
As previously mentioned, tech internships span various fields, from artificial intelligence to robotics. The tasks you’ll be responsible for as a tech intern depend on your assigned technical area, the company you’re interning with, and even your manager or supervisor.
To better understand what is expected in a tech internship and the types of duties and responsibilities an intern may have, here are some descriptions from actual tech internship job postings:
IT Intern
Job Summary
- Assist with the design, documentation, and recording of product training for end users.
- Research new technologies and explore potential applications in the company’s systems strategy.
- Design, document, and conduct recorded software training sessions for end users.
- Document the Scope of Work (SoW) for strategic and tactical application development projects, including creating requests for proposals (RFP) and requests for information (RFI) specific to projects.
- Communicate relevant IT-related information effectively.
- Perform additional tasks as assigned by management.
Software Support Intern
Job Summary
- Strong interest in working with a team focused on shared goals.
- Passion for assisting clients and building positive relationships.
- Eagerness to work in a fast-paced environment with a variety of challenges each day.
- Ability to problem-solve and think creatively.
- Provide inbound phone, web, or email support to resolve client inquiries and issues.
- Utilize the company’s client management system to create, track, and update details related to client issues.
Data Science Intern
Job Summary
- Conduct an in-depth analysis of the models currently driving the post-fix checkout recommendation system, exploring how repeated exposure to the same offers influences outcomes for clients.
- Develop a new linear programming solver to model supply and demand within the Freestyle channel, with the goal of improving inventory utilization and enhancing the client experience.
- Perform extensive data analysis to determine which inventory is best suited for the Freestyle Categories, helping optimize this product feature that personalizes merchandise recommendations for clients.
- Build machine learning models to generate demand forecasts for each style based on historical time-series data, supporting the growth of the Freestyle business.
Application Development Intern
Job Summary
- Develop, test, and implement internally created application software based on technical specifications, adhering to coding standards, policies, and procedures.
- Generate and maintain system documentation to describe existing processes, applications, and changes or enhancements made to internally developed software.
- Perform unit testing on applications before they are sent for QA testing.
- Design and develop user-friendly templates, databases, and interfaces to improve usability.
- Provide user support by resolving issues through analysis, research, and corrective action for assigned problems and enhancements.
- Maintain and enhance existing applications.
- Document code, write technical notes, and track changes.
- Participate in priority-setting sessions with the IT team to address dynamic project needs.
No matter which area you pursue, it’s important to recognize that internships have become, and will likely continue to be, a key part of your IT career path in the tech industry.
Despite the growing popularity of IT bootcamps and apprenticeships, Juan Pablo Madrid, design director at digital marketing firm Online Optimism, points out that internships provide the “most hands-on experience,” making them an essential component of career development.
As highlighted earlier, hands-on experience is one of the most valuable assets you can offer as a job candidate in the IT field, underscoring the critical role of tech internships.