Author
Moses Lee
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Grad 2022, B.S. Computer Science
A self-taught developer who loves tackling important and difficult problems, Moses graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Computer Science and is currently working as a Software Engineer at Courtyard.io, an innovative new platform that brings the world of real-life collectibles to the blockchain.
If anyone is trying to get a Software Engineering internship, I highly recommend getting a referral. These companies get thousands of applications that never get seen. And you only really get referrals through networking.
My most important advice to get this job...
Be proactive. A lot of jobs and startups that I was able to land were through personal connections and my personal projects. I had to go out of my way to research these companies and personally message their CEOs and their employees. Many places where I got a job weren't through an application process but through an email or a video call.
Good grades are the bare minimum. Don't just go to class, do homework, and do well on tests. This is just the bare minimum. Step outside of your comfort zone. Make that DM, make that LinkedIn post, and make sure your connections and network are always growing.
Make a Github and a LinkedIn account. If you already code, this should be a no-brainer.
Grind Leetcode. Many software engineer internships and jobs will make you take a difficult coding exam before moving on with the interview process. Leetcode is an online resource that complies with these questions that you can practice in advance.
Don't be afraid of the transfer route. With the increase in competition for computer science degrees from top universities, the transfer route is significantly easier than applying for Engineering colleges right out of high school.