How to Land Your First Big Tech Internship in 8 Weeks (Sri Lanka)

Ah, the summer internship—every college student's dream, right? But if you’re aiming for a big tech company like Google or Amazon, you’ve got to do more than just throw your hat in the ring. You’ve got to stand out. Lucky for you, I’ve got a killer 8-week plan that will help you land that sweet internship for summer 2025. So, buckle up, because we’re about to get to work!

Week 1-2: Project Time – Make Your Own Work Experience

Let’s face it. If you’re just starting, you probably don’t have much work experience to brag about. But that’s okay! This is where projects come in. Projects are your first “real” experience. Don’t just sit there waiting for someone to hand you a job. Build something!

Beginner Projects (If you don’t know how to code yet):

• Simple Calculator (Java or Python): Start small. Make a calculator app that does basic arithmetic. Trust me, it’s a classic starter project.

• To-Do List App: Build a basic to-do list app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s simple, but it gets your hands dirty with front-end development.

Intermediate Projects (For those feeling a bit more advanced):

1. Full-Stack Web Application (Pomodoro Timer)
   Build a timer app that tracks work sessions and helps with productivity. Use ReactJS for the front end and NodeJS or Python for the back end. You’ll learn about databases, authentication, and handling data like a pro.

2. Machine Learning Project (COVID-19 Prediction)
   Take a data set from Kaggle.com, clean it using Pandas, and build a simple machine learning model to predict future trends, like COVID-19 deaths. Bonus points if you throw in some Matplotlib visualizations. It’s not just about writing code; it’s about showcasing your problem-solving skills.

Week 3: Time for the Resume – Nail the Formatting

A bad resume? No thanks. Here are a few tips to make sure your resume stands out:

• Remove Start Dates of Education: Only put your graduation year. This makes you seem more experienced. Trust me, this works wonders.

• Show Your Citizenship Status: If you’re a Sri Lankan citizen, flaunt it! Companies like it because it speeds up the process.

• No High School Experience: Unless you built a killer robot in high school, don’t waste space listing irrelevant experiences.

• Focus on Technical Projects: Companies care about what you can build, not whether you volunteered at a soup kitchen. Show them your ReactJS and Machine Learning skills.

• Include Numbers: Quantify your impact. Instead of saying “built a website,” say “built a website that serves 10,000 daily users.”

Week 4: Networking – Time to Make Connections

Now, you're ready to network. It's not about how many people you know; it’s about how many people know you. Here’s how I did it:

• LinkedIn: Start by connecting with employees working at big tech companies. But don’t stop there—send them a message! Be polite, introduce yourself, and ask for a 15-minute chat about their experience. Networking is about building relationships, not just sending connection requests.

• Referrals: After your conversation, ask if they’d be willing to refer you to the internship program. You need all the help you can get, especially in today’s competitive market.

Week 5: Apply – It’s Go Time

Now that you’ve got your resume and referrals ready, it’s time to apply.

• Job Boards: Use Notify.Creation, Levels.fyi, and LinkedIn to find internships that match your skills and location. They’ll send you job alerts tailored to your preferences.

• Don’t Just Apply Blindly: Apply to jobs with your LinkedIn profile. It’s quick and easy—plus, your connections will help you stand out.

Week 6: Behavioral Interview Prep – Time to Shine

Interviews are coming, and you need to nail them. Here’s what I recommend:

• Be Yourself: Companies want to see if you’re a good fit, so let your personality shine. It’s not all about the code—don’t forget that!

• Know Your Resume Inside Out: Be ready to talk about every project and experience listed on your resume.

• Leadership Principles: Companies like Amazon have values. Know them and incorporate them into your answers. For example, if asked about your biggest strength, you can say:
  “My biggest strength is that I’m customer-obsessed, and I always keep the user in mind when building solutions.”

Week 7: Technical Interview Prep – Time to Flex Your Skills

You’ve nailed the behavioral interview, but now it’s time for the technical round. Here’s how to prepare:

• Master Data Structures & Algorithms: Don’t just memorize problems; understand the fundamentals of arrays, trees, graphs, and hashmaps.

• LeetCode: Practice, practice, practice. Start with easy problems, and then work your way up.

• GeeksforGeeks: If you’re stuck on a problem, head over to GeeksforGeeks for solutions and explanations.

Week 8: Offer Negotiation & Pre-Internship Prep

So, you’ve got an offer. Congrats! But what now?

• Don’t Negotiate Salary (Unless You Have Competing Offers): If you’re lucky enough to get an offer, don’t risk losing it over a few extra dollars. Take the job and celebrate.

• Reach Out to Your Manager: A month before your internship starts, email your recruiter and ask to speak to your manager. This will help you start preparing for the work ahead.

---

Bonus: Want a Cybersecurity Internship?

Looking to break into cybersecurity? If you’re eyeing a cybersecurity role, make sure you check out this website. It's packed with tips, CTF writeups, and cybersecurity resources that will help you level up your skills. Whether you’re interested in Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges or just want to get more insights into cybersecurity, this is a great place to start!