Internships are a great way to make the most out of the summer for students and post-graduates. Simply because they provide a hands-on glimpse into an industry before actually joining it. Furthermore, programs like the 4PSA Cool Summer Internship are beneficial both personally and professionally.

3 reasons for joining summer internships

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, when choosing between two equally proficient job candidates, most employers will hire the person who has done an internship over the one who hasn’t. This is especially true for industries like software engineering, where know-how is necessary, even at the entry level.

Even if your internship is only one summer long, the knowledge and experience you will acquire are invaluable. This is an opportunity to:

• Test drive certain roles or career paths
• Learn marketable, hands-on skills
• Form relationships with industry contacts
• Gain a firsthand taste of what the real world is like

Ultimately, internships are a fun way to spend your summer, learning and connecting outside the classroom. If you’re interested in becoming a software engineer or a similar tech-related role, here are just a few reasons to apply for a summer internship before you graduate.

It’s an opportunity to experiment, innovate and learn

As an intern, you’ll have the unique benefit of honing your skills under the mentorship of seasoned professionals. This allows you the space to both be creative and think outside the box. In addition, you’ll have the safety net of honest feedback and experienced coaching to help you rebound from mistakes.

An internship is a secure environment where you’re free to push your boundaries. All the while, you’re supported by leaders who want to see you succeed and are able to point you in the right direction when you stumble.

Make the most of it! Don’t forget to truly listen to the advice given by anyone you work with, whether they’re saying it to you in person or putting it in writing. Here’s our CEO’s advice to interns.

The technical skills you gain are major assets on the job market

Your skills are needed right now. Based on data from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), all tech-related skills are in high demand as more companies accelerate their digital transformation.

Areas of expertise such as cloud computing, automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence and similar disciplines can make you a competitive job candidate in the future.

Make the most of it! As employers continue to adapt to the current business landscape, they’ll want to see your technical competence. Use your internship as an opportunity to learn as much as you can. And question everything you’re being told 🙂 Because now it’s the perfect time to learn both hard and soft skills, especially if you haven’t worked in a team before. Show initiative and you’ll come out of your internship as a better candidate than your competition.

The connections you build are priceless

While it’s important to hone the right skills for your chosen career path, breaking into the actual industry is also about who you know. Whether the eventual goal is to work at a tech startup or an established corporation, you’ll need to create and maintain positive relationships with those who can help get your foot in the door.

An internship will connect you with influential leaders and experts in your field of interest. Don’t just ask questions about what you’re learning. Get to know who they are, what they do, and how they are doing it.

Make the most of it! You never know when you’ll need to reach out to your network for advice or support in the future. Keep them close and learn form each and every experience you have.

14 years of 4PSA Cool Summer Internship

When giving you all this advice on internships, I’m speaking/writing from experience 🙂 Our internship program has continuously helped chart the course for talented, innovative, and ambitious students and graduates over the past 14 years. Even at the height of the 2020 pandemic!

This week, we kicked off the 2021 Cool Summer Internship. In this edition, we have the biggest intern team to date. And that makes us very proud!

Like in previous years, our interns have the hands-on opportunity to engineer and optimize one of the most advanced communications software in the world. While working on projects that harness and expand their technical skill set, they’re mentored by professionals who will ultimately empower them to grow. And what’s more, we all have fun in the process 🙂

So, how are you spending your summer this year?