Most big tech companies will begin hiring summer interns in September and then close applications around January times. However, smaller tech companies hire interns right up until the start of summer. 61% of graduates have taken part in an internship so the competition tends for good companies is tough which is why it is always best to apply early.
The number of college students who completed an internship has more than doubled since 1994. The reason for their popularity is clear, it gives students real-world experience to put on their resumes and shows they have what it takes to cut it in the corporate world.
Incredibly, 70% of employers offer their interns full-time jobs once they graduate. So getting an internship helps your long-term career prospects a lot.
Tech companies do tend to favor certain colleges so it makes sense that their hiring season matches up with the academic year. A good GPA from a well-known college can definitely help your chances of getting a good internship at a tech company.
But let’s explore the specifics of when tech companies hire summer interns and which month they tend to start. Then we’ll explore when you should start applying and why companies even hire interns.
Why do companies offer internships?
Companies hire interns for several reasons, including:
- Fresh perspective: Interns bring new ideas and outlooks to a company, which can help to innovate and improve existing processes and practices.
- Future hires: Companies can use internships as a way to identify and recruit talented people who may become full-time employees in the future.
- Cost: Interns are paid less than full-time employees, making them a cost-effective option for businesses with limited budgets.
- Temporary support: They can provide support for specific short projects or tasks, allowing full-time employees to focus on other responsibilities.
- Skill development: Internships provide students and recent graduates with an opportunity to develop new skills and gain practical experience in their field.
- Networking: It gives interns the opportunity to build their professional network by interacting with employees, managers, and other interns.
Internships benefit both companies and interns by providing valuable experience, fresh ideas, and potential for future employment.
When do tech companies hire summer interns?
Most tech companies start interviewing candidates for summer internships at the beginning of fall and conclude hiring at the end of winter. So your best chance of being hired for a summer internship is from September to March. However, the best companies will have a lot of applications and work on a first come first serve basis. So you are always better to apply early.
Unlike traditional hiring, few businesses do rolling offers for their internships. Most will accept applications until a specific deadline, then do a few rounds of interviews and technical tests. Bigger companies think further ahead so expect their positions to open the earliest, but you can often be left waiting for the longest between stages.
Smaller tech companies are less likely to fill their spots as quickly. It means you could even pick up a job during a career fair in the spring. Depending on the urgency, some smaller businesses even keep hiring right up until the end of the college term. They are less likely to keep you hanging between stages because they have fewer applicants.
Think ahead
Create a list of companies you want to work at in early August. It gives you time to research each place, find out when their positions open, and see if they are a good fit for what you need.
Reach out as early as possible to each company on your list. Some recruiters even like the informal approach of touching base on LinkedIn. The time between each stage can vary so if you reach out early you could be waiting until the new year to sit down for an interview. So be prepared to wait.
Everywhere is different
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule for when tech companies officially hire summer interns. Obviously, it needs to be done by the time term but the exact time varies by institution.
Don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear back right away. They get a tonne of applicants and long wait times are normal.
When do FAANG internship applications open?
FAANG companies start accepting applications for summer internships as early as September or October of the previous year, while others may start accepting applications in November or December. It is essential to check the websites of each company for specific dates.
FAANG companies (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google) all have different timelines for their internship applications, and they change from year to year. However, they start accepting internship applications at least six months before the start date of the internship program.
The competition for FAANG internships is fierce and the hiring process is rigorous. They include multiple rounds of interviews and technical assessments. So, it’s vital to start preparing well in advance, apply early, and have a strong resume, cover letter, and relevant experience or skills.
What month do most tech internships start?
Most tech internships start in May or June and will continue through to August or early September. The specific start date of an internship will depend on when the candidate finishes his academic year and is due to start the next. There is no hard rule on start and end dates because each college breaks up at different times.
Unlike a full-time position where software engineers can stay as long as they want, internships are always finite.
Only 10% of internships take place once a student has graduated from university. The majority of graduations happen in May so a post-graduation internship would also start in May or June.
When to start applying for software internships?
The best time to start applying for software internships is as early as possible. Positions are competitive so you should apply for internships in September to give yourself the best shot at success. Write a wishlist of businesses you want to apply for around July and August so you can focus your efforts.
It’s never too early
Start applying for software internships as early as possible. Even if applications haven’t opened yet, getting familiar with the recruiter may be good. Some people even apply the year before they intend to do an internship and then defer. Being organized is a good trait and will come across as a strength in your eventual interview.
Remember that positions are always on a first come first serve basis. So if you leave it too late all of the positions will be filled up. By the end of winter, it’s only the smaller companies that tend to have summer positions open.
Be prepared
Even if you don’t intend to apply in the current academic year it may be worth checking out the Career Expo or similar. Sometimes you can make an impression on recruiters that will last until you are ready for a job.
Besides the more experience you get talking to the cold face of the big companies, the more comfortable you will become.
When do big tech companies stop hiring for tech internships?
Tech companies stop hiring for tech internships when all of the positions have been successfully filled. They hire on a first come first serve basis so it is always best to get in early.
Google close its internship applications in January. You can still get offers as later as March and April but you’ll have to apply before the cutoff. The same is true for other big tech companies. They have such a high volume of applicants that there are often large gaps between the stages. So a multiple-month gap between the application and the offer is completely normal.
You’ll want to start doing mock interviews and tech tests before the Christmas break so that you are ready for the interview before the tech companies stop hiring. The Christmas period is usually quiet because a lot of people take time off, so you’ll either want to get an application in before or after this time.
If you haven’t got a tech internship around March, don’t give up! Even the big companies still make offers as late as April and May so keep pressing for a job. Besides, there are also tonnes of roles in smaller businesses.
Why do tech companies hire interns?
More than 70% of companies end up hiring interns full-time when they graduate from university. It serves as a great way to get skilled talent through the door when they are less experienced.
There are many reasons why tech companies hire interns but the main reasons are:
- Serves as a trial period – An internship is a great trial run. It shows a company what the candidate is actually like over a long period. It gives them a lot more than just a first impression in an interview to go off. It is also significantly easier to end a working relationship at the end of the year.
- Fresh ideas – Even though they don’t have a lot of experience, interns provide a fresh perspective. It is easy for businesses to become stale and stagnant. New recruits bring a new way of looking at existing problems and workflows. However, a company must create a culture where interns can speak out.
- Mentoring – A key part of becoming a senior software developer is mentoring your teammates. Showing people with less experience the ropes and teaching them the basics is a great step forward for most engineers. It helps people develop good leadership skills and helps the business supervise people in a non-intrusive manner.
- Employee satisfaction – interns don’t want to be stuck making coffee for their entire year. Providing them with tasks that will benefit the business and pairing them with senior developers keeps them happy and improves long-term loyalty. Similar to the point above, it also improves the happiness of people around them. It gives people more purpose and a chance of moving up the ladder when they have people to help.
- Talent acquisition – It costs a lot of money to find and hire new talent, particularly if they aren’t likely to stay for that long. Interns tend to be more loyal, are cheaper to hire, and essentially go through a year-long interview to prove themselves.
Resources
Nathan Britten, the founder and editor of Developer Pitstop, is a self-taught software engineer with nearly five years of experience in front-end technologies. Nathan created the site to provide simple, straightforward knowledge to those interested in technology, helping them navigate the industry and better understand their day-to-day roles.
