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Ask HN: How do I ACTUALLY get an Internship?
I'm a second-year Computer Engineering student in India, and I'm trying to look out for legit internships that doesn't feel like a scam. Trying to avoid those pay-to-intern schemes that sound more like a hustle than a learning experience.
I'm super into Cybersecurity, Web Dev, AI/ML, and Blockchain. Currently geeking out on the MERN stack, hoping it'll open some cool doors.
So, here's the deal—I want an internship where I actually learn stuff and maybe get some pocket money (even if it's just enough for a decent cup of coffee). I've been lurking around forums, and HN seems like the place where people drop some real knowledge.
Any advice on finding the real deal when it comes to internships? Any platforms, companies, or just general tips on how to dodge the shady ones? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks a ton for any insights you can throw my way!
- Frummy 3y agoI would say spam applications to names that you recognise, then treat eventual interviews as if it’s the only one you’ve got as in taking it seriously. Apply to stuff you may not be directly knowledgeable about but bullshit your way through and learn it on the job. And look for position ads that may be in the niches as in platforms that people normally dont scour, some big names have weird partnerships and advertise positions where noone will actually look, so maybe look through not just the first page of google but check if you want to apply to something you see from a website on the third page of google as well.
- 0xzer0day 3y agoI see, thanks for your reply.
- edent 3y agoSpeak to professors at your school - they will often have contacts with industry. Talk to your school's careers service. Post on LinkedIn. Contact the HR department of large companies and ask if they have internships available. Do not waste your time trying to get a visa for a foreign country - it just won't happen for an internship. Don't pay anyone for introductions, or finders fees, or to interview. Good luck!
- 0xzer0day 3y agoThe thing is, I'm not not from a very good college, Higher-ups in my college really do not care. It's all on us students to figure our stuff out. Speaking of professors at college having contacts in the industry, barely any of them do, and even if they do, they try to make us work for it as a contract through them, so the professors usually are a man-in-the-middle for a certain project they recieved, the professors earn money, we do free labor, not getting any certificate of any sort, neither getting paid, and I don't think that's what an internship is. Also sorry for replying late, and thanks for replying.
- brudgers 3y agoUnderstand that in the US, internships are only legal if they are affiliated with an academic program...in other words, in the US internships are only for students. In other places this is less likely to be the case. So it might be better to just find a job. Or not. Good luck.
- 0xzer0day 3y agoWell unlilke in the US, the laws regarding internships and stuff in India are not that strict at all, in fact, various so called internship programs fake their partnerships with big tech companies like IBM/Microsoft and lure students in to work for free and get a certificate which has no worth whatsoever.