Why Would They Want You?

That's a serious question, neither rhetorical nor some sort of snark. These companies hire the best of the best. What do you have that demonstrates you’re a brilliant find for them? For example, are you the person your classmates turn to first – ahead of the professors – when they have questions over a broad range of courses? Do you ace all your classes without working hard, except maybe in say Russian or other one-offs required for graduation, where you still get the A but you have to work at it? Do you do work above and beyond your classes? CompSci majors contributing to serious GitHub projects or marketing majors helping make their local nonprofits successful?

Because that’s who they’re looking for. Connections – of the type you’re likely thinking about – don’t matter. Yeah, maybe if your family is good friends with Zuckerberg and his wife, but generally, nah. Except… if you have a great relationship with one of your professors who also works closely – research or consulting – with one of these companies, that kind of connection might make a difference.

But go back to my question. How do you answer it? Because therein lies the key.

Let me add one additional personal note as a long-time...

Understanding Competition in Landing an Internship

Obtaining an internship at a large company like Facebook or Google can be competitive but it's not impossible for college students without prior work experience or connections. In fact, many companies actively seek out interns who are eager to learn and bring fresh perspectives to their teams.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the overall internship offer rate for 2021 was 56.5% for bachelor's degree candidates, showing that a significant portion of students are successful in securing internships. Additionally, the offer rate for computer science and engineering majors specifically was even higher at 68.4%.

Large tech companies like Facebook and Google also offer numerous internship opportunities. In 2021, Facebook reported that it hired over 1,200 interns globally, with interns working in various areas such as software engineering, data science, and product design. Similarly, Google offers a variety of internships in fields such as software engineering, data science, and user experience design.

While having prior work experience or connections can certainly be helpful, they are not always a requirement. These companies often value traits like creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn in addition to technical skills. It's also important to tailor your application to the specific company and role you are applying for, highlighting relevant coursework, personal projects, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your passion and skillset.

In short, while obtaining an internship at a large tech company may be competitive, it is definitely possible for college students without prior work experience or connections. By focusing on building relevant skills and tailoring your application to each opportunity, you can increase your chances of landing an internship with these top companies.