What skills are required for programming internship?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the skills required for a programming internship, particularly in the context of using C#. Participants explore the level of proficiency needed, the importance of practical demonstrations, and the variability of requirements across different companies and environments.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that companies seek interns who are proficient in a programming language but also want to see how those skills apply in real-world scenarios.
  • Another participant proposes that creating a simple app using correct coding practices, such as Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), can demonstrate the necessary skills during an interview.
  • Concerns are raised about the competitive nature of internships, with one participant highlighting the challenge of standing out among numerous applicants who may struggle with basic programming tasks.
  • A participant points out that the original blog post referenced in the discussion pertains to full-time job applicants rather than interns, suggesting a difference in expectations.
  • Some participants emphasize that there is no definitive list of skills required, as it varies based on the specific company and its culture.
  • Questions are raised about the relevance of the applicant's previous experience and the specific domain or platforms they are familiar with, indicating that these factors influence the skills needed for an internship.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there is no single answer to the question of required skills for programming internships, and multiple competing views remain regarding what those skills might be and how they vary by company.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the requirements for internships can depend heavily on the specific company, its projects, and the applicant's background, which complicates the ability to provide a clear answer.

AVReidy
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It would be fantastic if someone could come up with a rough list of what you think the necessary skills are for a programming internship. Let's say in C#, for example. I read that companies want interns who are (in theory) very proficient at a language but want to apply their learned skills in the real world.

At what level of proficiency in the language do interns need in order to be hired?

Thanks
 
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Can you make a simple app (using correct coding practices, like OOP and such) to show at an interview? That's usually enough to know you have the skills you would need.

Just go for an interview with some company and see if you impress them enough to do the internship. If the turn you down, take it as a learning experience and ask the interviewer what they think you need to improve on. Just remember, the worst (reasonable) thing that can happen is that they turn you down, but that's still a good thing in a way, because it's a learning experience.
 
Out of 200 applicants, can you beat out the 199 who can't do something at the level of fizz buzz?
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/02/why-cant-programmers-program.html

Difficulty: you're usually under the gun... (And you may be using an unfamiliar IDE, so assuming you make it to the sit-down phase, it's probably up to you to say which compiler / IDE you're using). Hell, it sounds as if you might have a decent shot if you can compile and execute "Hello World"!
 
Wow...
 
The famous Atwood blog post isn't even describing people applying for summer internships. It's describing people who are applying for full-time jobs as programmers.
 
Nobody seems to have a good answer to my question...
 
1. Thanks for the appreciation.

2. There is no "good" answer, if your definition of a "good" answer is a list of skills you need. Specifically, it depends on the place you want to do the internship with. Generally, you need to be at least proficient enough to make a small demo, like I originally said.
 
AVReidy said:
Nobody seems to have a good answer to my question...

What is the domain your working in? What platforms are they working with and what platforms have you worked with? What is the culture of the place? What projects have you worked on (these include your own)?

These are some good starting questions whose answers can lead to more specific ones.
 
Internships varies from corps to corps buddy. In order for us to give to accurate information, tell us a bit about where precisely you planning to work for.
 

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