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I'm Siddhartha international student from India pursuing masters in computer science what skills I need to learn to get summer internship?
Computer Science internship
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3 answers
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Laura’s Answer
Hello Siddhartha,
First off, you want to have a background that aligns with your internship goals. Your bachelors degree should be in computer science or a related field. If you're still pursuing your bachelors, get involved in projects building software such as fellow students thesis projects and capstone projects. This could also be your own project as it is important to have side projects. Do what you are passionate about. Open source projects are a great avenue to do this. GitHub has a lot of resources surrounding open source projects. Also, maintain your GitHub and make sure you're updating it with your projects, interviewers love to see a updated GitHub that demonstrates experience.
Make sure your foundational compute science concepts are strong such as algorithms, data structures, etc.
In order to find and get internship interviews, engage your professional network such as LinkedIn or through your school's career center. There may be friends and colleagues that are already in the professional world and whose companies have internships for which they can recommend you. Internships tend to be on a scheduled release for certain companies. Some companies accept applications for the upcoming Summer as early as fall of the prior year. Some companies will have quarterly internships and will release the applications the quarter prior. It might be easier to focus on a specific company or category of company.
Practicing for your internship interview is also critical. If you visit Leetcode or HackerRank or other resources, you'll see programming challenges that you can practice on. There are various levels of questions on LeetCode as well as many resources to help learn strategies of tackling the questions. There is a great book that assists with interviews called Cracking the Coding Interview. Once you feel confident with tackling the questions on your own, move on to mock interviews with friends and colleagues. Coding live in front of someone is a skill and needs to be honed. You need to talk about what your doing while doing it. Make sure you have your friend challenge you with questions and expand on topics covered in the question.
First off, you want to have a background that aligns with your internship goals. Your bachelors degree should be in computer science or a related field. If you're still pursuing your bachelors, get involved in projects building software such as fellow students thesis projects and capstone projects. This could also be your own project as it is important to have side projects. Do what you are passionate about. Open source projects are a great avenue to do this. GitHub has a lot of resources surrounding open source projects. Also, maintain your GitHub and make sure you're updating it with your projects, interviewers love to see a updated GitHub that demonstrates experience.
Make sure your foundational compute science concepts are strong such as algorithms, data structures, etc.
In order to find and get internship interviews, engage your professional network such as LinkedIn or through your school's career center. There may be friends and colleagues that are already in the professional world and whose companies have internships for which they can recommend you. Internships tend to be on a scheduled release for certain companies. Some companies accept applications for the upcoming Summer as early as fall of the prior year. Some companies will have quarterly internships and will release the applications the quarter prior. It might be easier to focus on a specific company or category of company.
Practicing for your internship interview is also critical. If you visit Leetcode or HackerRank or other resources, you'll see programming challenges that you can practice on. There are various levels of questions on LeetCode as well as many resources to help learn strategies of tackling the questions. There is a great book that assists with interviews called Cracking the Coding Interview. Once you feel confident with tackling the questions on your own, move on to mock interviews with friends and colleagues. Coding live in front of someone is a skill and needs to be honed. You need to talk about what your doing while doing it. Make sure you have your friend challenge you with questions and expand on topics covered in the question.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Siddhartha !
I am happy to know that you are a Computer Science student in a Masters Program ! That is marvelous !
If you are looking for a summer internship, there may be opportunities through your Masters Program that you can explore. Is an internship necessary ? Will you need to work a project or research for your Masters Thesis ? Is it possible that you can obtain a paid, part time job because you already have a Bachelors Degree ? These are just some questions you can ask yourself and your professors before sifting through internship opportunities.
I imagine that achieving a Bachelors Degree already, you have expertise in many aspects of computer science already. You would just have to get experience or learn the new skills you feel that you need. It's an individual need, not a generalized need. There are always things that can help you and will increase your skills at any time, but you would need to choose which skills you need or want to learn.
As in any career, strong communication skills are always needed. It especially helps with computer science because sometimes people who are not in the field find it difficult to understand and are always happy when it can be explained in an understandable way if it has to do with their program or website or computer system. So I would say practice English, writing, speaking and reading.
Another thing you can do is take certification courses to be certified in various computer science subjects, Choose ones that you've been meaning to get. The more certifications you have, the better your qualifications will be.
To know what skills to focus on, read employment notices. The employer usually states what the applicant is expected to know and do. Read computer job notices on Indeed and Linked In to see what employers are actually asking for. And do not hesitate to apply for an actual job. Consider interning, but also consider employment. You can always build your skills outside of having an internship.
In addition, do not hesitate to speak with your professor, staff at the Computer Lab and other students at your University and network with other computer professionals. Many conversations among these people can clue you in as to what is the latest thing is or what is marketable.
Also, keep in mind that increasing your skills doesn't guarantee an internship. You may qualify for an internship right now. Add skills because you want to learn and that way you can easily choose the skills yourself. While working an internship or a job, you are bound to learn new things, especially in computer science. Some can be self-taught but any certifications in your field will be good to have.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
I am happy to know that you are a Computer Science student in a Masters Program ! That is marvelous !
If you are looking for a summer internship, there may be opportunities through your Masters Program that you can explore. Is an internship necessary ? Will you need to work a project or research for your Masters Thesis ? Is it possible that you can obtain a paid, part time job because you already have a Bachelors Degree ? These are just some questions you can ask yourself and your professors before sifting through internship opportunities.
I imagine that achieving a Bachelors Degree already, you have expertise in many aspects of computer science already. You would just have to get experience or learn the new skills you feel that you need. It's an individual need, not a generalized need. There are always things that can help you and will increase your skills at any time, but you would need to choose which skills you need or want to learn.
As in any career, strong communication skills are always needed. It especially helps with computer science because sometimes people who are not in the field find it difficult to understand and are always happy when it can be explained in an understandable way if it has to do with their program or website or computer system. So I would say practice English, writing, speaking and reading.
Another thing you can do is take certification courses to be certified in various computer science subjects, Choose ones that you've been meaning to get. The more certifications you have, the better your qualifications will be.
To know what skills to focus on, read employment notices. The employer usually states what the applicant is expected to know and do. Read computer job notices on Indeed and Linked In to see what employers are actually asking for. And do not hesitate to apply for an actual job. Consider interning, but also consider employment. You can always build your skills outside of having an internship.
In addition, do not hesitate to speak with your professor, staff at the Computer Lab and other students at your University and network with other computer professionals. Many conversations among these people can clue you in as to what is the latest thing is or what is marketable.
Also, keep in mind that increasing your skills doesn't guarantee an internship. You may qualify for an internship right now. Add skills because you want to learn and that way you can easily choose the skills yourself. While working an internship or a job, you are bound to learn new things, especially in computer science. Some can be self-taught but any certifications in your field will be good to have.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Updated
Surendra’s Answer
To secure a summer internship in computer science, it's essential to develop a mix of technical, problem-solving, and soft skills.
Be proficient in at least one or two programming languages. Common languages for internships include Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript. Focus on the ones relevant to the field or industry you're targeting (e.g., Python for data science, Java for backend development).
A strong understanding of data structures and algorithms is crucial. Employers often test these in technical interviews.
Platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal offer coding challenges to help you practice and prepare for technical interviews.
Develop the ability to break down problems into smaller, more manageable parts and approach them logically.
Practice solving problems that require efficient algorithms. This will help you stand out in technical interviews.
Clear communication is key when explaining your thought process, code, and ideas. Practice articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical people.
Be open to learning new tools, technologies, and methods. The tech industry evolves rapidly, and employers value candidates who can adapt to new challenges.
Update your LinkedIn profile with relevant skills, projects, and experience. Connect with people in the industry, including alumni from your school.
Actively apply to internships on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, or specialized ones like AngelList for startups. Attend career fairs, hackathons, or conferences to network with potential employers.
Practice mock interviews with peers, mentors, or using platforms like Interviewing.io or Pramp to simulate real-world interview scenarios.
By strengthening these skills and being proactive in applying, you’ll put yourself in a strong position to land a summer internship in computer science.
Best of luck!
Be proficient in at least one or two programming languages. Common languages for internships include Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript. Focus on the ones relevant to the field or industry you're targeting (e.g., Python for data science, Java for backend development).
A strong understanding of data structures and algorithms is crucial. Employers often test these in technical interviews.
Platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal offer coding challenges to help you practice and prepare for technical interviews.
Develop the ability to break down problems into smaller, more manageable parts and approach them logically.
Practice solving problems that require efficient algorithms. This will help you stand out in technical interviews.
Clear communication is key when explaining your thought process, code, and ideas. Practice articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical people.
Be open to learning new tools, technologies, and methods. The tech industry evolves rapidly, and employers value candidates who can adapt to new challenges.
Update your LinkedIn profile with relevant skills, projects, and experience. Connect with people in the industry, including alumni from your school.
Actively apply to internships on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, or specialized ones like AngelList for startups. Attend career fairs, hackathons, or conferences to network with potential employers.
Practice mock interviews with peers, mentors, or using platforms like Interviewing.io or Pramp to simulate real-world interview scenarios.
By strengthening these skills and being proactive in applying, you’ll put yourself in a strong position to land a summer internship in computer science.
Best of luck!