Internships are a great way to enter the tech industry. They can provide you with some work experience and exposure before you commit to a full-time role.

It’s worth noting that some people skip this step and go directly to a junior role. That’s fine for some, however it might be a more challenging leap for others.

Preparing your CV

A simple one page CV that looks good, covers all the basic information, and has no typos in it is what you need to prepare.

We suggest downloading a free template and editing it, rather than trying to create one from scratch. CoolFreeCV has some great templates for you to start from.

Some tips for your CV:

- List up to three previous roles: If you have any previous work experience, it’s worth listing it, even if it’s not relevant to the role you are applying for.

- List any relevant skills you have, or have picked up during your course, this may include any tools or technologies you can use, or soft skills, such as good communication.

- List any relevant courses you have completed.

- Share a bit about yourself it’s hard to get a sense of who someone is without a paragraph or two about them. Think of it as your bio and make it relatable and friendly.

- List links to your sample projects. If you have no relevant experience, then having a few sample projects that people can check out might help you stand out from the rest. It also demonstrates that you are a self-starter which is highly valued in technology.

Internship programmes

Some organisations will advertise internships directly on popular job boards, and through their social media accounts. So, if there’s a particular organisation you like, it’s a good idea to follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Here are some organisations that provide or co-ordinate internships:

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When applying for an internship consider these two things:

Write a short cover letter. If you are applying for a role online or via email you may have the opportunity to provide an introduction along with your CV. Keep this down to a few short paragraphs. Try to showcase your good qualities and interests, and share your enthusiasm for the opportunity. Don’t oversell yourself, but make it clear you are keen to learn. Finally, explain why you think you would be a good fit for
the internship.

Avoid typos if you can. A CV or cover letter with poor writing or spelling errors is more likely to be discarded. Use a writing tool like the free online HemingwayApp to ensure your writing is up to a good standard. This tool can help everyone, but it will be especially useful if English is not your first language.

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