Here's how you can secure IT internships in the current job market.

IT Management begins with RESPECT. We start by respecting the client's expectations. We understand that saying "yes" to everything a client asks for is not necessarily feasible. It is a negotiation of matching the client's expectations to the reality of what technology can do to meet those expectations. Respect continues, with the understanding that regardless of how smart we think we are as managers and IT providers, other team members bring value to the process. Listening is a critical component of IT Management. Just because something has been done one way for years does not mean it is right. We must remember that times change, and the opinions of others can contribute to a more efficient operation.

This is arguably one of the most important step. Watch your excitement level as you research different areas of your major. Also, look out for the industry you are most excited about since IT is applicable in virtual all industries.

Today’s IT environment is over-saturated with recruiters. I’m quite sure 90% of my connections are recruiters. They will most definitely call you for some type of job. Most of the time they do not even read your profile or skills but will reach out by searching key words - place of work and type of job or skills you mentioned. My advice is (depending on your level of desperation of course) not to give them a chance to lead the conversation and to prepare all the relative questions regarding the job. Especially research the average salaries for your skill set. Never answer directly to “how much salary do you expect?” However do have prepared hourly, daily and monthly rate. And insist for every detail to be in the contact.

Securing IT internships today requires building technical skills, networking, and proactive job searching. Develop key IT skills through coursework, online courses, and certifications in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, or data analytics. Leverage professional networks by connecting with industry professionals on LinkedIn, attending events, and engaging in online forums. Use alumni networks and career services for leads. Actively apply through job boards, company websites, and platforms like Internshala and Glassdoor. Tailor applications and participate in hackathons or open-source projects to showcase skills. These strategies enhance your chances in the competitive job market.

There are a few good things to remember when scoping out internships in IT. 1. What skill does the job require, and what skills do they propose to teach you. Make sure these scopes both apply to you. You're looking to learn in return for working in a specific range of skills the employer needs. 2. Non-compensated internships are a thing of the past. Unless you're getting certified training that normally costs 5+ figures, you should be paid for your work, even if it's slightly below starting compensation. 3. In the employer's eyes, internships allow them to create the most advantageous skillset for people they hope to retain long term. You may be just there to learn, but they are teaching in hopes you will want to help them on their mission.

When we see your cv, assuming you're not being selected by a heavy algorithm, we're looking for people that fit our culture, have good learning skills, and hopefully an aptitude for our brand of tech. IT is 10x larger than it was only 10 years ago. In cybersecurity alone, it is easy to ID over 50 specialties. Make sure your skills match the internship. Do NOT pad the resume, more and more this is damning. You can mention learning interests and goals in education/vocation, but more and more, be true to yourself. We want to see someone willing to learn more than we want someone who thinks they already know everything for the internship. Remember, this is supposed to be a learning position, not a highly skilled advanced position.

Free mentoring will win you major opportunities. These aren't internships, this is career coaching. In Cyber there are a ton of great mentor programs that are FREE. This means you get to not only meet someone already established in the space, but learn from them and likely build a professional relationship with them in some capacity. More than half of my contracts in the last year came from networking and building relationships and a solid reputation for integrity and hard work. Professional relationships are profitable, especially when associates realize they "know a guy." engage when you can, attend free webinars, and ask big questions. Let them remember you were interested in their work and they will often remember you too.

A clear demonstration of skills is great, don't get me wrong, but an internship isn't just people recruiting for highly skilled positions. Being skilled enough to know when to ask questions is 100x more valuable than bum-rushing easy certs. In cyber, CTFs and hackathons can often gain you a reputation and new friends and networks. The more skills you have, even basic ones, like AD/LDAP will add up when a company is looking for an understudy for one of their architects who is utilizing a crazy number of specialties. Learn everything you can get your hands on and be prepared to show you can do it. Moreover, be very good at admitting when you don't know something, they want you to ask questions!

This isnt a perfect skillset. A large amount of success in interviewing is based on who is doing the interviewing. One of the items I like to ask when an interview is scheduled is a sort of inquiry on what to expect. It's not against the rules to ask if there is a skills test involved, what they cover, and how long it takes. Sometimes they response gives you more details than you actually requested. If you're going through a recruiter, ping them about advice in making sure you have a good chance at the interview. Sometimes they have been working with the employer for a long time and know everything you need.