Engineering Internships And Entry-Level Opportunities

You’ve heard of a post-interview thank you note. Now get ready for the post-rejection thank you note! I see WAY too many job seekers viewing rejection as the end of the line. They cut ties with everyone at the company. These are people you spent 30-60+ minutes connecting with! They know your value, they know what you offer. They can be some of the best leads for new roles if you let them. So instead of letting rejection be the end of the line… Send a Post-Rejection Thank You note! Here's how to write one in 4 parts: 1. Thank them for taking the time to consider you 2. Wish them a ton of success with the hire they made 3. Mentioned specific things that you loved about the company, team, and speaking with them! 4. Ask if it'd be ok for you to stay in touch For example: "Hi Jamie, Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me last week! I heard the team made a hire, I'm super excited for you all and I'm wishing you a ton of success with [Initiative]. I really enjoyed interviewing at [Company], and I especially enjoyed our chat about the future of blockchain in the health tech space. If you're up for it, I'd love to stay in touch! Either way, have an awesome rest of the week." Now set a calendar invite to follow up with these people once / month. Aim to add value with your touch points. I promise they'll lead you to more opportunities.

I've interviewed 100s of people for 6-figure roles. (Here's what nobody tells you...) It's not the most qualified candidate who gets the job. It's the best prepared for the interview. How to prep like the top 1%: 1. Research the company like you already work there. ↳ Know their challenges, victories, and latest news. 2. Practice your answers out loud. ↳ What sounds good in your head may not when spoken. 3. Prepare 3 specific stories that showcase your skills. ↳ Focus on your adaptability and leadership. 4. Study the job description. Find the top 3 skills they want. ↳ Then craft examples proving you have them. 5. Do a mock interview with a trusted person. ↳ Someone who will give you honest feedback. 💡 And 7 questions to ask that make YOU stand out: 99% of candidates ask basic questions at the end. Don't waste this opportunity to impress! Ask these instead: ➟ What does success look like in the first 90 days? ➟ What are the biggest challenges facing the team that I could help solve? ➟ How would you describe the management style of the person I'd be reporting to? ➟ What distinguishes your top performers from everyone else? ➟ How does the company support professional development and growth? ➟ What made YOU decide to join this company, and what keeps you here? ➟ What do new employees find surprising after they start? The best candidates don't just answer questions. They create meaningful conversations. Remember: Interviews are a two-way street. You're evaluating them just as much as they are you. You spend 90,000 hours of your life at work. Choose a company and manager that support your growth. Your career will thank you. P.S. What's your best tip for nailing your interview? Share in the comments to help others prepare. ♻️ Valuable? Repost to share with your network. 🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more on career success. Want my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com   

Our best interns have always done this unexpected thing: They ask A TON of questions up front. They don’t pretend to understand the task. They don’t nod their way through the kickoff meeting. They dig in early, clarify every detail, and make sure nothing is lost in translation. Yes, it’s annoying for me. It's annoying for us. It can take 30 minutes to explain a very simple request. But the outcome is worth it. Once they’re clear on the goal, they go deep. They read articles, test hypotheses, and break their code repeatedly. The worst interns? The "yes, I got it" crew. Hint: They don't got it. They spend hours going in circles, asking scattered questions, and making slow progress. They disrupt the team making everyone lose focus on their tasks as they are hammered with questions repeatedly for a week. As a manager, I’d rather answer 15 questions in the first 30 minutes than have someone interrupt my team repeatedly for a week straight. If you’re starting an internship, do this: - Get 100% clarity on the task. Take notes. - Do not leave your manager’s desk until you truly understand the assignment, even if it makes you feel stupid. - Get to work. - If you get stuck or have more questions, do not ask immediately. Be patient. Build a list and get them answered all at once. No one expects you to know everything. We don’t know everything. But showing that you know how to learn and work effectively is invaluable. #internships

Intern PSA: Remember that your internship is a learning experience. Yes, you want to make an impact. But your team knows you are there to learn. So use that to your advantage: • Acknowledge what you don’t know • Ask good questions (lots of them) • Stay curious and open to learning • Observe others' approach to work • Reflect on what you’re learning • Proactively ask for feedback • Get involved in cool projects • Say “yes” to new challenges • Clarify anything unclear • Adapt where needed • Take lots of notes Everyone on your team has been in your shoes. They expect you to ask questions. They expect you to feel uncertain. They expect you to not have it all figured out. That’s not a weakness — it’s the whole point of an internship. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up curious, ask for help, and be willing to grow. Because the interns who grow the most are the ones who lean in, speak up, and figure things out along the way. So be that intern. Ask the questions. Own your growth.

Make sure you're taking a long-term view while searching for your next role - that's how you build a career, not just land a job! Three pro-moves: 1. Respond with grace to every rejection and use it as an opportunity to reaffirm your interest in the company more broadly. Why: If you make it pretty far through a process (past the hiring manager), the company likes you and sees a strong match. You would likely do well there, even if another candidate wins out for this role. A positive reaction to a rejection helps strengthen the relationship with the team, and let's them know the door is open to the future. Real Life Results: I've seen others share their successes; I can personally tell you I've received 3 offers from places that have previously rejected me, and 2 were when they circled back within a few weeks to months of a rejection, with another opportunity. Ex. "Thank you so much for this update! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed because COMPANY was truly my top choice, and a place I know I would thrive, but I'm so glad you found a strong match for this opportunity, it's an awesome role and team!! This process has been wonderful and only strengthened my interest in working with COMPANY so I hope you'll keep me in mind for similar opportunities - I'll be keeping my eyes peeled too. Careers are long and I hope we'll have the chance to be colleagues one day!" 2. Take that interview, even if something about the opportunity is less than ideal. Why: Maybe the comp is low, maybe title isn't quite what you wanted. But it's still a chance to learn more and network. If the company is of interest to you, take the chance to learn more. Yes there's an opportunity cost in terms of your time, but it may be worth it to get some networking in. Real Life Results: I've shared before that the initial salary range I was quoted for my job at Zapier was lower than what I would have expected...I continued any way, and fortunately managed to get leveled up which landed me an offer I was happy to accept! In the past, accepting an interview for a job in a location I was not willing to go to also landed me a great opportunity. Ex. There isn't one. Just say yes if there's something appealing - you might decline this opportunity, but open the door to an even better one! 3. Keep in touch with people after networking chats, interviews, etc. Why: Anyone you've met with once is in your network. When you share updates, you keep the lines of communication open. This makes it easier to make an ask in the future, and also keeps you top of mind for them! Real Life Results: This approach has helped me get referrals or connections to hiring managers, some of which have led to offers. Ex. "I know we chatted a few months ago - since our conversation, I completed my certification through PMI, and moved into an agile-focused role in my dept. I'm still interested in opportunities with COMPANY in the future, so certainly keep me in mind in the future!"

Your first job out of college can feel overwhelming. I still remember joining IBM as a fresh grad, unsure of what to expect but eager to prove myself. While I had worked hard to earn that opportunity, I quickly realized that succeeding in your first job takes more than just technical skill. Here’s my biggest piece of advice to new grads stepping into their first role: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼. Be proactive, not reactive. That one shift in mindset changes everything. Instead of just doing what was assigned to me, I started thinking about: → How can I make my manager's job easier? → What’s slowing the team down? → Is there a process that can be improved? → Can I learn from teams outside my own? 💡 I wasn’t confined by my job description- I explored! I reached out to people beyond my immediate team, set up 1:1s to learn what they were working on, and asked where I could contribute. That helped me meet incredible people like Armand Ruiz, Dr. Seth Dobrin, Priya Krishnan, Shadi Copty, and so many more! That habit of thinking beyond your role, and then sharing your thought process and actionable ideas, is what builds credibility early on. It also helps you get noticed. 🌱 Having a growth mindset was key. I didn’t wait for opportunities, I created them by showing initiative and being vocal about how I could help. 🤝 Networking inside your company is as important as networking outside. Many of the best career moves I’ve made happened because I nurtured relationships beyond my team. Don’t underestimate the power of a coffee chat with someone in a different org. If you’re just starting your career, remember: → Speak up even if you’re the most junior person in the room → Share ideas that benefit your broader org → Learn fast, ask smart questions, and stay curious → Build relationships early and intentionally → You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start showing up like someone who’s ready to grow. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝘁. 💼 #Classof2025

Didn’t get an internship this summer? Read this. I never had one. Still made to Google. But If I could go back, I would do this... First off, forget the noise. You’re not cooked. You don’t need to change majors. You’re fine. The internship path is just one way. It’s not the only way. 1️⃣ 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Stop sending cold DMs asking for referrals. Actually read their posts. Find common ground. Ask real questions. Share insights. The goal isn’t just to get one random referral. It’s to build relationships that last. Because when you know someone well, they’re more likely to:  • Refer you confidently (can turn a referral from a maybe to a very high chance of an interview)  • Share new roles as they move to new companies  • Remember your name when opportunities come up One good connection can open doors for years. 2️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 Forget “To-Do” lists and cookie-cutter clones. Build things that matter. Here’s a framework: - List your hobbies - Write down what frustrates you about them - Find a pain point - Build a project to solve it; even if you don't finish the project, try When you’re actually excited about the problem, you learn faster, dig deeper. 3️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 I didn’t follow the traditional path. No CS degree. No shiny internships. But I had two things locked down:  • I knew exactly where I was starting from  • I knew exactly where I wanted to go Most people just throw themselves into the grind without knowing the game. You can’t break the rules if you don’t know what they are. 4️⃣ 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 (𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂) I don’t care if it’s:  • Wake up at 11 AM  • Play games from 2–4 PM  • Code from 11 PM–2 AM Just pick your schedule and stick to it. Consistency is worth more than perfection. 5️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲... 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄. I’m a fan of the slow burn of LeetCode  • 1 - 2 problems a day.  • Study by topic, not # completed  • No cramming three weeks before interviews You don’t have to grind 8 hours a day, you just have to keep moving forward. 6️⃣ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝘁 Tech internships are catching up to banking, you’re applying more than a year out.  • Set Google Alerts for deadlines. Don't miss them.  • If you can get a referral, do it. If not, still apply.  • It’s not about perfection. It’s about consistency. If you didn’t land an internship, it’s not game over. It’s game on. 💡 Save, repost, and share with someone who needs this.Because missing out on an internship doesn’t mean missing out on your future. You’ve got three months. Build. Learn. Connect. If you need accountability, comment "Locked In" below and I’ll reach out weekly to check in. Or shoot me a DM if you want to keep it private, I get it. That was me back then, which is exactly why I’m sharing this. Let’s make the next three months count.

I recently received a job application that stood out immediately - not because of extraordinary qualifications, but because the candidate included a brief video cover letter.   In just 60 seconds, this candidate accomplished what a traditional resume simply cannot: • Demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for the specific role • Showcased communication skills and professional presence • Highlighted relevant experience with personal context • Conveyed personality and cultural fit potential   For those not yet comfortable on camera, a thoughtful pre-interview note can serve a similar purpose.   This approach allows you to: • Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences • Explain specifically why you're interested in this particular role • Demonstrate that you've researched the company and understand its challenges • Address potential questions about your background proactively   What struck me most about this candidate's approach wasn't the production quality - it was the initiative it represented.   In a competitive job market, this small additional effort signals a willingness to go beyond minimum requirements.   The candidates who consistently advance aren't always the most technically qualified on paper.   They're often the ones who demonstrate the most genuine interest and initiative throughout the process.   What creative approaches have you used or seen to stand out during the application process?   Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #applicationstrategies #jobsearchdifferentiation #personalbranding #hiringprocess

I've reviewed >100k resumes in my career. So many people make easy to fix mistakes. Here's what I wish everyone knew before submitting an application: Contact info - Include email, linkedin, github/portfolio - Show the actual linkedin url, don't hyperlink with different link text - Include city / state (or relevant to country), full address isn't necessary - designers: password protect at your peril, resume reviewers are lazy Use standard resume template - Order should be Name / contact details --> work xp --> education - Work xp should be listed most recent --> least recent - Use specific dates (month + year) - No sensitive info (DOB, Citizenship, Marital Status, Religion, etc) - No pictures - No skills / jobs chronology "side-bar" 🙄 - No skills / accreditations alphabet soup at top of resume No "fun" stuff - No weird colors (just black) - No "fun" font selection - *Designers, this section doesn't apply to you* Be concise - Max 2 pages - No more than 6 bullets per job - Bullets should be no longer than 1 line (no wrapping text) - Distill, distill, distill - resumes ARE NOT exhaustive - Do not use evasive language (unclear dates, titles, etc) - Use commonly understood (but select) metrics to exhibit impact Errors - No spelling errors!!! - HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PROOFREAD!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------ Resumes are not a place for innovation. More is not better. Be selective and thoughtful. Accept that you will get very little attention from resume reviewers - your job is to decide what to communicate in that very short span. Your resume is a MARKETING TOOL - it's intended to help you get an interview. It is NOT intended to document all of your experience. That's what the interview is for! What else belongs on this list? Any ya'll disagree with? ------------------------------------------ 👋 Follow me (Jordan Mazer), Caitlin Cooke & Jordan Carver for more tips just like this. 🏃♀️ Join the a16z speedrun talent network here: https://lnkd.in/geyt5f9b

I went through 150 applications and 19 interviews to land my first three paid internship offers and, ultimately, my first internship. Here's my exact roadmap for searching, applying, and interviewing for your 1st internship: I literally spent 30+ hours per week figuring out the internship search, while balancing it with 17 credits worth of engineering coursework. They say job searching is a full-time job, but how does that work when you're a full-time (40-50+ hours per week) student? It doesn't unless you don't sleep & sacrifice your social life, which I don't think is right 😂. So here's everything I did, in detail, to land three paid internship offers as a freshman ~ 1️⃣ Beef up your LinkedIn presence. 🥩 You don't have to become a Linked[in]fluencer to leverage LinkedIn for your internship search. Optimize your LinkedIn profile for visibility (fill out every section of your profile, use keywords, keep it clean & organized) and send out as many LinkedIn connection requests as possible (connect with people in orgs you're already in, people you admire, peers/colleagues/classmates, etc). 2️⃣ Spend a lot of time perfecting your resume. ✍️ When you're starting out your career, you likely don't have a huge network or experience. Hence, the key to your first role will be your resume. Try to get third-party opinions on your resumes; I went through 10 versions of my resume before I wrote the winning one. 3️⃣ Dedicate time to building your resume. 🛠️ Writing your resume is different than *building* your resume. You can't apply to a job with an empty resume so you have to get some experience (even if it's not "Work" experience). Build up your project portfolio and do competitions to create showcaseable projects and potentially, awards. 4️⃣ Lock in with applications; it's a bit of a numbers game. 🔢 When you're early in your career, the job search is basically a game of getting your resume in front of as many people as possible until you find the one (or few) hiring managers willing to take a chance on you. 5️⃣ Get good at conversations & being likable. Once you get past the resume screen/first round, you can safely assume everyone in the process is equally (roughly) qualified. At that point, it's about getting the hiring team to like you. Hiring managers are human, humans are subjective, and humans will hire people that they like and *want* to work with. I executed my roadmap a tad late (mostly Jan-May), but it worked regardless! For those of you looking into the upcoming recruitment cycle, please start earlier than I did; the roadmap/execution still works on an earlier timeline. 😂 This is just my experience, though! For those of you who landed your first internship as a freshman ~ what was your key to success? Comment it below & let's help each other out! ⬇️ #earlycareers #internships #summerinternship #earlycareer