Software engineering internships: a start to a fulfilling career in software development

Software development, and by extension, software outsourcing, has long since been a thriving field that attracts clients from around the globe. With AI and machine learning also having taken centre stage, software development teams have evolved to undertake AI model training, for the purpose of integrating intelligent technologies into the applications they build for their clientele.

With so much scope available in the industry of software development, student and working professionals alike are being inspired to pursue a career in the very same. In this article, we zero in on software engineering internships, what they offer, and how the best one can be sought. Read on to know more!

Interested to know more about potential software engineering internships at EFutures? Avail the opportunity to work alongside world-class and highly skilled teams, for real-world insight into the field of software development. Contact us today to know more.

What do software engineering internships offer?

Software engineering internships are a worthwhile stepping stone for new and aspiring software developers. Whether or not you have minimal knowledge of coding and working in the software engineering field, a software engineering internship can open the door to various fulfilling opportunities, well after the internship is over.

In essence, the two main areas that a good software engineering internship addresses includes:

Technical skills: Which includes training on coding in popular programming languages such as Python and Java. While many software engineering internships expect their interns to already have a foundational knowledge of coding, many software development companies may also offer this as part of on-the-job training to interns who they have hired from within their existing workforce.
Real-world experience: Collaborating with teams as they design, build, test and debug software and mobile apps is an integral learning opportunity for software engineering interns. Additionally, gaining soft skills that focus on how to communicate ideas, concerns as well as problems is something that interns get a front row seat to, thereby giving them all-round exposure to the software development industry.

For interns who are part of software outsourcing companies, they’ll also be part of the challenge to coordinate with clientele across different time zones, while giving them the opportunity to gain experience working across international markets.

How to choose the best software engineering internship

The process of finding a suitable software engineering internship can essentially be approached in two main ways, depending on:

Where you are in your career (or whether you have an established profession at all), and,
If you are already working in the IT industry (be it an IT or non-IT role).

If you’ve already been part of the IT industry – Heading straight into an internship could be doable, as you may already have an idea on how software development teams function, thanks to observation. While those with a prior qualification and coding knowledge may have a better chance of assimilating into an internship, those with no coding knowledge may find it advisable to discuss their options with relevant team members (including HR) for understanding what their best course of action is.

If your employer can teach you coding skills on the job via an internship, it may be the best opportunity one could obtain – as you may not need to separately invest towards a dedicated course. Alternatively, you may be advised to enrol for a course and if time and/or money is constrained, for a bootcamp at the very least, in order to have some foundational skills before you can start an internship.

If you serve a non-IT role in a non-IT industry – It may be sensible to pursue a course or bootcamp beforehand, so you can build some useful skills prior to considering a software engineering internship. While pursuing training, it may help to ask why you aim to learn software engineering; is it to make yourself more competent in your current job role, or is it to switch careers? Answers to these and similar questions can help you determine exactly which courses of study/bootcamps are best for your situation.

After getting qualified, you’ll have the leverage you deserve to pursue and negotiate for a software engineering internship.

Where to find the best software engineering internships

Similar to job hunting, finding the best software engineering internship opportunities boils down to external sources such as online job boards, as well as networking with those you know for suitable options. Apart from these common sources, here are other pathways towards finding software engineering internships:

Universities and bootcamps: If you are pursuing a course of study at a university or bootcamp, inquire about potential software engineering internships to academic staff. If any companies partner with your university or bootcamp for the purpose of hiring fresh graduates, you may have an opportunity to secure a software engineering internship as soon as you complete graduation.
Online developer communities: By pursuing a course in programming, chances are that you may already be part of thriving developer communities across the frameworks and libraries you use. Check with fellow developers across forums to see if any opportunities present themselves – and don’t forget to comprehensively vet and screen, to ensure any options are legit.

In conclusion…

Software engineering internships are now highly sought after, especially by aspiring students who wish to pursue a career in software development. However, they may also be a viable opportunity for working professionals who are looking to obtain skills in software development, be it for improving their skill sets in their job roles, or for switching careers.

Offering the chance to attain technical coding skills, it is the exposure to real-life scenarios and collaboration with team members that make software engineering internships highly beneficial. Interns now have the chance to observe how teams communicate, handle crises as well as scale to meet demands on short notice, thereby giving them a bird’s eye view into the daily life and grind of software development teams, throughout the development life cycle.

Software engineering internships may be available without any kind of prior training, but they typically require skills in coding, to be considered for one. For busy working professionals who have time constraints, a bootcamp may be a more convenient option, as essential coding skills can be learned within a shorter span of time, in comparison to a formal course or degree.

If you are keen on availing a software engineering internship, speaking to your university (if you’re a student) or with your employer (if you’re a working professional), may be an ideal first step. While students may have a fairly straightforward hunt for a suitable placement, working professionals may need to address their need for prior coding skills, before they can successfully secure an internship.

Once you’re eligible, hunting for the right placement can be done either by considering positions offered by companies partnered with your university, searching online job boards, networking with close contacts, as well as asking developer communities.

FAQs

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Q1: Do software companies in Sri Lanka offer software engineering internships?

A: Yes, many leading software companies in Sri Lanka offer software engineering internships which are primarily targeted to students, but may also be open to their junior-level employees. While the internships cover technical skill building, they also offer real-world problem-solving experience as interns need to collaborate with teams to build, test and ship software on a regular basis.

Q2: Software engineering degree or software engineering bootcamp: which is better?

A: While a software engineering degree is longer in terms of duration, it offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of the course you may be following. On the other hand, a software engineering bootcamp focuses on building skills within a short period of time, so students have the core skills they need to derive real-world applications for them.

Which one is better typically depends on your unique needs and situation. But as a rule of thumb, a degree may be more suited to students who are just starting out with their career. A bootcamp may be more helpful for full-time working professionals who already have little IT experience, or none - and wish to gain useful skills that can enable them to be more productive, or pursue a more competitive job opportunity.

Q3: Does a software engineering internship guarantee permanent job placement?

A: While a software engineering internship offers hands-on experience in the field of software development, securing a job always depends on an intern’s level of performance. If performance is satisfactory, this may be converted into a full-time placement as a junior or trainee software engineer. If not, an extension may be granted to the internship. Other economic and business factors may also contribute to the final outcome, such as company budgets, which will likely determine if new full-time software engineers can be hired.

Either way, it’s best for software engineering interns to ensure that they do their best work, while also being open to the idea of securing full-time placement elsewhere, lest their current company is unwilling or unable to provide a full-time position.

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