How to get your first web developer internship
Getting a good internship is one of the many ways of experiencing the professional Developer World but sometimes it can be a little hard for new Developers to grasp a good internship.
But it's no rocket science and after taking care of some important things you can easily get a decent opportunity.
There are some points that you need to keep in mind though :
1 ) I am considering that you already possess the required skill set as a web developer. Although I will mention some points related to it
2 ) All of this is based on my experience and research so take this with a grain of Salt
So without further ado, lets jump right into it
I divided the Entire process of getting an internship into two major phases:
The Preparing Phase
1 ) Build Some Decent Projects
This probably is the most common advice you will get from almost everyone and rightfully so. One of the very first things that an employer will look for is projects. It need not be the next Facebook, just some decent ones that showcase your skills. Below are some ways of getting good project ideas
- Look for a web app that you like and try to build it on your own. Don't go for the ones that are too complex and also don't choose the easier ones. In short, consider the time it will take to build the Project
- Another way is to Customize course Projects. Let's say you are following a udemy course and you build an application along with it then you can change some core things about the project like the concept or the UI and then show it as your own
- Choose Projects that showcase different parts or functions of technology. For example, in the case of Node.js, you can choose some concepts like CRUD, WebSockets, third-party services to make multiple projects with different concepts
2) Build Your Own Website
As a web developer, you need to have your own portfolio website. It not only shows your skills but also make a good professional impression not to mention its very convenient for the employer
Some important points regarding your website are:
- Keep it short and simple. Your Employer will probably only give 2–3 minutes to your profile so you don't need to build a website with loads of pages. Just a One Page Website with 5–6 Sections is fine.
- Don't compromise on the UI or Design on your website. Take ideas from sites like Dribbble or ThemeForest and then build an awesome looking website.
- Do some research on your own about a good portfolio website. There are a lot of good resources out there. You can also take ideas from portfolios of any experienced developer. You can learn from awesome blogs like this https://codeburst.io/10-awesome-web-developer-portfolios-d266b32e6154
3) Learn to use git and GitHub
If you are following any courses, you should already be familiar with git and Github. Having a good Github contribution graph can change how the employer views your profile. To give you an example
The above image shows your activity on GitHub and it is seen as a positive point by the employer. It shows that you are serious and passionate about development.
To learn more about git and Github follow the below link
4) Create a LinkedIn profile
Linkedin is a Social network for Professionals and also the best place to connect with people of similar interest. So if you haven't already, create a LinkedIn account and start making connection requests to people
For example: If you are a Node.js Developer, Start sending connection requests to other Node.js developers who are already working somewhere
5) Build a One Page Resume and Cover letter
When you apply for internships, in most of the cases you will be required to send your resume and cover letter. I put more emphasis on the part One Page because the employer has limited time for each applicant, So you need to make your resume short and effective
You can find plenty of resources telling you the Do’s and Don'ts of Resume Building on the internet. Just in case I will mention a nice resource below
One more important thing is you may need to customize your Resume depending upon the company you are applying for.
https://zety.com/blog/web-developer-resume
The Application Phase
The Preparation phase is pretty much done and now you should Start applying for internships. There are various ways of applying and I have mentioned the common few.
1 ) Applying through Linkedin
You can apply for internships through Linkedin. There are various jobs mentioned in the job tab and you can filter through them based on your skill set
You can also get good offers through your connections. Just ask them politely about the possible openings in their respective company. If You can get a reference of an employee, Run For It
2 ) Applying through Angel.co
It is also a great platform for developers to find Jobs and internships in Product based Startups. All the details are clearly mentioned about the job profile and the company and the User interface of the platform is also great
3 ) Applying through Internshala
Internshala is a Platform famous for internships in India and also a great one for getting Internships. It's extremely similar to Angel.co as you need to fill the details and then apply for the internships based on your preference
P.S: I will mention some additional details about these platforms towards the end
4 ) Applying Directly through the company website
Another way is to apply through a company’s Career page. Its neither the most common nor the most effective one but it's still an option you can opt for
Some Additional Details
a) When applying through various Platforms like Internshala or Angel.co, You may come across a very generic question “Why Should we hire you ?” Don’t take it lightly and prepare a proper answer for that after researching a bit about the company and showing how you are a better fit
Let's take an example
Above mentioned was the answer I prepared for one of my applications
Now let's see the company’s requirements
It can easily be seen that the answer is tailored according to the company’s requirement.
P.s: If you can’t think of any fancy words there is no shame in searching the internet for it
b) Do Research about the company you are applying for as it will not only help you during the interview but also prevent you from any fake organisation
And that’s pretty much all I can tell you about the entire process. In case of an interview, you will most probably face questions related to the projects you have done or your skillset. It may vary depending upon the Company
I hope it helps you in some way and Do let me know if there is something that can be improved
Happy Coding :)
