First Internship: My Experience as a Software Developer Intern

In this article, I will be discussing my experience as a first time software developer intern. I hope this article motivates you to get an internship and prepares you for the wonderful world of software development.

I was a computer science junior at Oakland University when I first began the hunt for an internship. I felt as if I was in the perfect position, academically wise, to excel and relate my skills in an internship. I was ready to gain hands-on experience as a software developer.

I was very fortunate to have a well structured internship, where I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects alongside a mentor. My internship included a total of four interns, where we paired together to accomplish weekly tasks. Some of these tasks included refactoring and improving code quality, creating internal development tests, practicing valid documentation, and so much more. 

Here are some helpful tips I have for new interns interested in software development.

Find a Mentor

I believe taking part in a mentorship is an essential factor to becoming the best developer you can be. Having that guidance will help you succeed in your career and discover your passion. Here are some ideas you should consider doing with your mentor:

1. Update your resume, GitHub, and LinkedIn
2. Select a few goals between you and your mentor. Motivate each other to accomplish these goals by the end of your mentorship.
3. Discuss the multiple career paths in software development. 
4. Job shadow your mentor and ask for their advice. 

Any questions or uncertainties you may have, I promise your mentor will be there to catch you. I am extremely thankful for my mentor, as she has helped me become a better developer and reach my dreams.

Ask Questions Frequently and Write it Down

The beauty of being an intern is that you do not need to be an expert on everything. Quite frankly, there is no person on this earth that knows everything about software development because it is forever changing. When working in software development, you must be able to adapt and learn quickly to stay up to date with advancing technologies. With that being said, it is so important to ask questions often. Do not be afraid to ask for advice on something you are unsure about. Make sure to always reach out and ask for help, while keeping an open mind. My internship was the perfect opportunity for me to thrive on knowledge.

Most importantly, I recommend that you document the answers and feedback to all of the questions. Practicing effective note taking will help you succeed in the future. Personally, I kept track of weekly accomplishments, struggles, and new topics by writing them down in a diary. This allowed me to view my progress and review new skills.

Practice Your Communication Skills

In software development, people tend to think you hide behind a computer all day with little to no socializing. This assumption could not be farther from the truth. In fact, there is constant communication with people on your team daily. 

In my internship, we participated in an Agile system, where we had multiple pair programming tasks. Communication and planning was the key to completing projects on time. When coming across obstacles, explaining the issue properly can help your team find a solution faster. Therefore, demonstrating good people skills can go a long way in software development.

Job Shadow

As you begin to mingle with other developers on your team, ask what their main roles are and if they would be willing to set up a shadow session. This experience will enable you to grasp problem solving skills and see into the thought process of an experienced developer. Of course, make sure to come to a shadowing with questions prepared and take effective notes. I truly enjoyed my job shadowing opportunities, I was able to witness software development in action and validate my passion. 

Participate In Mock Interviews

In my internship, I was lucky enough to have a mentor that advanced me through 7 mock interviews with different departments in the company. It allowed me to gain a better insight on a technical interview process and learned how to prepare properly. Here is my biggest takeaways from mock interviews:

1. Be confident. Do not be afraid to brag about yourself a bit, it shows that you are passionate and proud of your accomplishments.
2. If you don’t know the answer to an interviewer's question, it is okay to admit that. Try your best to redirect the conversation to show your motivation for wanting to learn. Take notes during the interview on what you didn't know, so that you can research it after.
3. Practice your coding skills. It is common for software developers to have coding exams during an interview. To advance your coding skills, I recommend frequently attempting  www.codewars.com problems and purchasing this book: Amazon - Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions: McDowell, Gayle Laakmann: 1235264539136: Books
4. Be prepared to ask your interviewer questions. Towards the end of the interview, an interviewer will usually ask if you have any questions. Never say no to this, have multiple questions prepared for them. 

Summary

Overall, an internship is the perfect opportunity to learn what it takes to be a software developer in the real world. There will be times you find yourself struggling, but turn those barriers into your strengths. Always remember to keep an open mind and reflect upon yourself. Most importantly, give it your all.