I'm currently pursuing a dual major in Computer Science and Information Technology, and I'm really interested in finding a systems or infrastructure internship. My focus is on roles related to systems engineering, cloud computing, networking, and DevOps. Since I'm still early in my studies, I'm looking for advice on how people typically secure their first internships in these areas.
I've noticed that a lot of the available advice targets software engineering internships, so I'm specifically curious about several aspects:
- Where do companies usually post systems or infrastructure internships?
- Do students find them through official company career pages, networking platforms like Handshake, or other sources?
- What are the typical job titles for these roles? Should I look for positions labeled as "systems intern," "infrastructure intern," "IT intern," or something different?
- Lastly, when do these internships start recruiting? Is it aligned with the software engineering internship timeline, or do they tend to be more rolling or later in the year?
I would appreciate any insights or experiences you could share about what helped you land your first systems role, such as projects you worked on, relevant coursework, or certifications.
1 Answer
Starting in a helpdesk or end-user support role is pretty common for those moving into systems or infrastructure. This kind of experience helps you understand the business side of IT and the real impact of decisions on users. I think this is valuable for any aspiring developer too! You really get a feel for enterprise work, deployment, and maintenance of applications before diving deeper into systems.
Totally agree! I started in helpdesk, and even though I thought I'd move on quickly, I actually enjoyed it so much that I stuck around longer than planned!