A Java Developer Internship can be an excellent way to start your career in software engineering. Aspiring software engineers can gain valuable experience, sharpen their skills and make invaluable connections with industry professionals during their internship.
But, the most important question is how do you get a Java Developer Internship? In this blog post, we will be discussing tips on how to land a successful internship in this field.
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How To Get A Java Developer Internship
- Do Your Research On Various Java Internships
- Enhance Your Technical Skills
- Create An Online Portfolio
- Network With Other Java Developers
- Be Enrolled In A C.S. Program
These are the steps you should take if you want a Java developer internship. Landing a Java internship is hard because it’s competitive, but if you follow these steps, you’ll greatly increase your chances of being hired.
1. Do Your Research On Various Companies And Internships
Research is key when applying for an internship as a Java developer. You should research the company or organization you want to apply for and find out what type of projects they are working on and if they require any specific skills.
Every company will have different requirements. However, there are some skills that will be universal among all Java developer internships. If they do require some skills that you don’t have or that you’re not well versed in, I highly recommend you sharpen those skills moving forward.
2. Technical Skills For Java Internship
Having technical skills related specifically to java development like object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts and coding in Java language will give your application a big boost. Especially compared with other applicants who don’t yet possess such skill sets.
Thus, it might be beneficial if you spend some time practicing coding before submitting your applications. This will give recruiters confidence about your abilities as an aspiring software engineer and thus make them more likely to hire you as an intern instead of someone else with less technical skill sets.
Free Resources To Learn Java
There are a lot of great free resources to help you learn Java and land an internship. One website that I’ve used to practice coding problems is CodingBat.com. You can make an account and it will track your progress as you solve the available problems.
If you would like to solve more challenging problems, there’s always LeetCode.com. They have many more problems to solve and this will help you prepare for more challenging interviews such as from the FAANG companies.
One of the best places to start is YouTube. I made a great beginner-friendly tutorial that will guide you toward building a simple banking application with Java. It’s a great introduction to how OOP works.
Paid Resources To Learn Java
If you’re looking for a more thorough course to teach you Java from beginner concepts to advanced, check out this course by Tim Buchalka. I used this course to learn Java when I was in school and it even helped me pass my Intro to Java class and my Data Structures and Algorithms class.
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Sometimes learning from textbooks is better than video courses. With textbooks, you can easily refer back to any specific section if you need to. This is helpful when doing homework or if you’re building a Java project. I highly recommend Head First Java if you prefer to learn from a textbook.
3. Online Portfolio
Creating an online portfolio showcasing past projects completed could also be very helpful since potential employers would want proof of what kind of projects you were previously involved in before considering hiring someone new into their team.
This type of physical evidence would easily demonstrate exactly how proficient one is while doing java development projects. It will also demonstrate your HTML and CSS skills. If you’re looking for a tutorial to help you build a portfolio website, I highly recommend this one.
4. Networking
Additionally, networking is also essential when looking for internships as most companies prefer candidates who come recommended by their own networks or at least have connections in the software industry already established.
You should use your college or university’s alumni database to reach out to former students that are now working in the field or use social media platforms such as LinkedIn to find professionals you can connect with.
5. Education & Certifications
Having a degree or being enrolled in a degree program related to Computer Science is often essential when applying for an internship as a java developer. It shows potential employers that you have sufficient knowledge of programming languages.
If you don’t possess this type of degree yet, taking courses related to computer science may help show recruiters that you have some understanding of programming principles and practices which can set your application apart from other applicants.
Additionally, certifications are also very helpful when looking for internships within the IT field since many employers prefer candidates with certifications over those without them.
This is due to the fact that certified professionals tend to be more knowledgeable about programming languages than those without such certifications.
Is Java Good For Internships?
Java is great for internships. Landing a Java developer internship can lead to other amazing opportunities such as other internships and full-time opportunities. Companies like Amazon, Google, Spotify, and many other top tech companies use Java.
Taking a Java developer internship will make you a much better developer as well. You’ll learn how to use your skills in a real-world setting and learn what it’s like to work at a real company.
What Is Required For A Java Internship?
In order to obtain a Java developer internship, you often must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, engineering, IT, or similar. However, some internships are offered to high school students.
It’s also necessary to have certain skills such as elementary Java skills, plus good communication skills. In some cases, you’ll need to know more than just the basics of Java including object-oriented programming (OOP) as well as data structures and algorithms.
You’ll also need a good resume to submit along with your application. Along with your resume, a cover letter is also beneficial. If you have certain programming certifications proving that you completed a course, such as the one I listed earlier, be sure to include that in your resume and cover letter.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many steps one needs to take into consideration while applying for an internship as a java developer. You should research companies, network, have an educational background related to computer science, get certifications, and have technical skill sets related to java development.
It also helps if you create an online portfolio showcasing all past project works. These are all key ingredients needed if someone wants to successfully land an intern position within the IT field. With these tips outlined above anyone has a chance to become a successful future Java developer intern!