With the increasing popularity of Python and its applications in web development, data science, automation, AI/ML, and more, developers with knowledge of this versatile programming language are in high demand.
Aspiring Python developers looking to launch their careers can gain valuable experience from an internship. Internships provide real-world experience working on projects that help build a developer’s skillset while also providing resume-building opportunities.
In this post, I’ll discuss how you can find a Python Developer internship, how you can land the job, and how you can make the most of your experience as an intern.
What Do Python Developer Interns Do?
Python developers design and code complex applications for various purposes using various technologies all stemming from the Python programming language. They also test and debug issues related to the applications they work on and make necessary updates.
Being a Python developer is an incredibly rewarding developer position in the industry. You can build web apps, develop machine learning and artificial intelligence programs, become a data scientist, and much more. These are some of the steps it will take to get a Python developer internship.
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How To Get A Python Developer Internship
- Build Your Python Skills
- Create A Resume And Cover Letter That Stands Out
- Search For Available Internships
- Reach Out To Companies And Start Applying
- Network With Peers And Professors
These are the 5 steps to take if you want to get a Python developer internship. Follow these steps closely, especially when it comes to building your skills and creating projects to showcase them.
1. Build Your Python Skills
Python coding has become an essential skill in a wide variety of industries and roles, including data science, web development, machine learning/AI, and software engineering. To stay competitive in any of these areas – or to enter them at all – it’s important that aspiring professionals understand what they need to learn in order to get an internship utilizing their Python skills.
Core Skills
At its core, those who want to land an internship using their Python skills should start by mastering the basics. This means understanding the language’s syntax rules as well as basic concepts like variables, functions, and classes.
It also means having experience with popular libraries such as Pandas or NumPy so you can work with data efficiently. Having strong knowledge of basic syntax is necessary before moving on to more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming (OOP), database management systems (DMS), and frontend frameworks like Flask or Django.
Knowing how different libraries work together is key when building applications from scratch or working collaboratively on complex projects that require multiple components, libraries, frameworks, etc.
The best way to get a handle on the core skills of Python and even some advanced topics is by following a structured curriculum. This can be from a course at your University or through an online course. If you’re interested in an online course, I highly recommend this one by Dr. Angela Yu on Udemy:
100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2023
More Advanced Topics
Once you have mastered the fundamentals of Python, creating some projects will be beneficial to gain expertise in some of the other popular topics.
Some of the advanced topics are web scraping using Scrapy & BeautifulSoup4, automated testing through Selenium & Pytest, GUI design & development with Tkinter & Kivy, parallel computing via Apache Spark & Dask, natural language processing (NLP) with NLTK, etc.
Not only will having this sort of knowledge open up opportunities when searching for an internship, but it will also make you much more valuable if ever looking for another position down the line.
Employers are always keen on individuals possessing wide areas of technical expertise across various domains beyond just one specific area or library etc.
Soft Skills And Other Areas Of Knowledge
It’s not enough however just knowing code – employers look for candidates who go beyond technical proficiency alone when evaluating potential hires. In addition, soft skills are equally important such as problem-solving abilities, communication, and organizational capabilities.
Aspiring coders should also keep tabs on industry trends like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics so they know how best to leverage available technologies toward solving real-world problems.
Further reading about object-oriented analysis design patterns may come in handy too. The goal here is twofold: firstly demonstrate familiarity with cutting-edge tech stacks used by companies today secondly show an aptitude for integrating existing solutions into modern architecture designs.
2. Create A Resume And Cover Letter That Stands Out
The next step after building your skills is to create a great resume. Your resume should showcase your technical skills as well as any relevant work experiences or internships you may have had already.
You should include your experience with various programming languages such as Python, list out any notable projects that you may have done related to software engineering or development and highlight any awards or recognition you earned during college (if applicable).
Additionally, it’s important to mention other items like problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and communication skills which demonstrate your readiness for an internship role at a company.
Another thing that will really help you stand out from the crowd is to write a winning cover. Express your interest in the company and why you think you would be perfect for the role you’re applying for.
3. Search For Available Internships
Once you have created your resume, start searching for available positions by using job boards like Indeed or Glassdoor along with specific websites dedicated to technology jobs such as TechCareers or StackOverflow Careers.
When applying for these positions be sure that the title includes words like “internship” so you know the position will give quality on-the-job training instead of just basic labor tasks without room for growth.
Make sure when reading through job postings to take note if there are additional requirements listed beyond what appears in the job description such as having previous coding experience with certain languages including C++/C#/JavaScript etc.
That way you can determine whether all necessary criteria have been met before submitting an application. However, keep in mind that if you see a job that you think you would be great at and sounds like you’d be a good fit for, apply anyway. It doesn’t hurt to apply and you never know what will happen unless you do!
4. Reach Out To Companies And Start Applying
Next, you should reach out directly to companies via email introducing yourself and expressing interest in their open roles (when applicable). Ask them questions about their culture & overall environment – this shows initiative which hiring managers appreciate!
Additionally, some companies may allow external applicants who aren’t connected through traditional recruitment channels yet still qualify based on qualifications & interests stated within resumes submitted online. If interested inquire about these opportunities too!
It’s recommended every applicant create LinkedIn profiles complete with comprehensive information regarding background expertise, interests, and samples of past work (if possible) since many employers use social media outlets during screening processes.
These tactics greatly increase chances of being contacted back favorably by recruiters conducting initial screenings oftentimes leading to potential offers later down the line!
5. Network With Peers And Professors
Lastly, remember to speak personally with professors and colleagues who have experience in the field. They will likely yield helpful advice furthering prospects of landing a Python internship.
Utilizing alumni networks often provides highly beneficial contacts which may lead to interviews; thus networking is another very useful tool in helping secure internships.
Above all else, show passion and enthusiasm in areas related to the role. Give your utmost focus and possibly delve deeper into your learning. Work hard and do whatever takes stand apart from the competition.
Conclusion
To sum up, getting an internship with a company specifically geared towards developing apps & systems using Python requires much effort and preparation on the part of the applicant. Building your skills and creating a stellar resume will help you to attract recruiters.
Plus actively reaching out to organizations offering internships boost chances of obtaining a role tremendously! Leveraging personal connections also goes long way in making a desirable impression on prospective employers.
However, placing emphasis on understanding the technical aspects needed to perform well is a vital part of the process. Follow these tips and I’m confident you’ll be able to land a Python developer internship this summer!
