6 Cool Tech Internships You Wish You Had - InformationWeek

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Comments
6 Cool Tech Internships You Wish You Had
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David Wagner
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David Wagner,
 User Rank: Strategist
5/31/2015 | 12:35:05 PM
Dropbox
Geeze, Dropbox treats its interns so well one wonders if the regular employees don't get annoyed at how well the interns have it. I'd like InformationWeek to fly my parents out and explain what I do for a living. Actually scratch that. I don't want to see my parents. but if they want to pay my rent and phone bill, I'd be all for it. :)
PedroGonzales
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PedroGonzales,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 12:51:01 PM
Re: Dropbox
If I would have know about these perks. I would have been more motivated and have applied for an internship at these companies.  I have heard from many recent graduates that in today's job market having an internship is a must.  I agree, I'm amazed that they offer free housing for their interns.   
SunitaT0
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SunitaT0,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 2:04:06 PM
Re: Dropbox
@Pedro: Having a Google internship or an Apple internship is better than a Dropbox internship because of the things you are going to have after you interview for a job in the same company. 
Kelly22
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Kelly22,
 User Rank: Strategist
6/1/2015 | 12:58:57 PM
Re: Dropbox
The free housing is a big one, but it does make sense. Interns are coming from all over the US and different countries, and apartments can be expensive and hard to find on short notice. Well maybe price isn't as much of a concern, given the amount of money these interns are getting paid.
SunitaT0
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SunitaT0,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 2:07:39 PM
Re: Dropbox
@David: I don't have the age for applying as a technical intern for these companies though, maybe a business intern, and I would love to get to know the working of Google and Qualcomm. Qualcomm's business management is deeper and wider spread than any of the companies mentioned. 
H@mmy
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[email protected],
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 4:33:34 PM
Re: Dropbox
Practical exposure and learning can help you go long way. You may realize the mistakes you were doing before you entered the practical environment. In some univeristies internship is compulsory in order to obtain a degree. It also pulls out the fear that you may posess in your student life.
vnewman2
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vnewman2,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 5:23:04 PM
Re: Dropbox
I love living in the US but sometimes I wonder why, especially in skilled professions, US companies don't still embrace (with a few exceptions) the concept of the apprenticeship that's still common in Europe and Germany in particular. We wonder why the Germans are known for the high quality of their exports. My guess is this practice is a factor.
StaceyE
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StaceyE,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 2:46:55 PM
Facebook
I want to be a Facebook intern!!! My husband and kids might not appreciate it but it looks like a great place to start!!! ;)
StaceyE
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StaceyE,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 2:50:27 PM
Re: Dropbox
@ David

I am with you there! I think if I were a regular employee, NOT geeting the same perks as the interns I'd be more than just a little peaved. In lieu of flying my family in, I would be happy with a paid flight to Hawaii during that time! ;)
H@mmy
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100%
[email protected],
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 3:15:59 PM
Re: Dropbox
How long are these internships for ? Thinking to apply for one of them after reading the perks. Haha
StaceyE
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StaceyE,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 3:37:05 PM
Re: Dropbox
@ [email protected]

I might do the same! lol

 
H@mmy
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[email protected],
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 3:07:56 PM
Internship opportunity
Internships are really helpful before you actually step in your practical career. Practical experience is way different than what has been taught at schools. One should always look forward for internships at these exciting places.
Technocrati
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Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 5:51:27 PM
The Price is Right Has Internships Too ....

Thank you Kelly for this - though I must admit I could not read it ( not because I am a hater ).  No it just would have been a needless stroll down " What could have been road". 

I realize this is just evolution at it's best.  Good for those who can get into the coffers of the tech giants.    I guess our objectives are the same, but really I could always do the Intern thing again if the price is right.

 

 

mak63
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mak63,
 User Rank: Ninja
5/31/2015 | 10:30:00 PM
Apple vs Google
As someone mentioned below me, I don't have the age to apply for any of these internships. I wish I were young again just to be able to apply to any of these companies.
Anyway, I'm surprise Apple charges for the "all-organic cafeteria". You think a company worth, what's it now? 750 billions?, can afford a "free cafeteria; like Google does.
Anyone watched the movie The Internship? Pretty good movie.
David Wagner
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David Wagner,
 User Rank: Strategist
5/31/2015 | 11:26:46 PM
Re: Apple vs Google
@Mak63- I wonder if maybe companies should start looking into mid-career "internships" where they try to attract talent with internship-like perks for people who come with the right set of skills. Have them come in, get the perks for a year and rotate around looking for the right corproate fit. It might help build engagement and it could be a way to steal talent and make sure it gets put in the right place.
Kelly22
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Kelly22,
 User Rank: Strategist
6/1/2015 | 11:33:19 AM
Re: Apple vs Google
This is an interesting idea... internships are definitely associated with the 18-early 20s crowd, but they could also work for people considering a career change. And with payment/perks like the ones at these companies, employees wouldn't have to worry about working for free for a few months.
mak63
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50%
mak63,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/1/2015 | 5:06:23 PM
Re: Apple vs Google
@David. Not a bad idea at all. Actually, in the movie I mentioned down below, the two main characters are middle age guys. Of course, it's just a movie. So I went to check Google's internship page, and some of the minimum qualifications are:
  • Be currently enrolled in a 4-year BA/BS program, in any major, at a university in the United States.
  • Be a current undergraduate Junior. Freshman and Sophomores are encouraged to apply for student programs at google.com/students.

These requirements will let down a lot of people. 
Li Tan
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Li Tan,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/4/2015 | 10:55:42 AM
Re: Apple vs Google
The requirement looks fair enough. But I believe the bar for intership in Google would be rather high and the competition would be rather fierce.
Kelly22
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Kelly22,
 User Rank: Strategist
6/4/2015 | 12:54:08 PM
Re: Apple vs Google
Absolutely. I'd bet that the pool of college juniors applying for Google internships exceeds the amount of applications that other companies get from freshmen/sophomores/juniors combined.
batye
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batye,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/9/2015 | 9:43:13 AM
Re: Apple vs Google
@Kelly22 I could not agree more... as everyone love the winner and want to be assosiated with....
batye
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50%
batye,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/9/2015 | 9:44:28 AM
Re: Apple vs Google
@Li Tan yes you are right... at the same time it like a new learning curve for new graduates... trying they best...
Technocrati
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Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/1/2015 | 5:36:31 PM
Re: Apple vs Google
@David   That is a really good idea, there are countless numbers of qualified people out there who would welcome the opportunity.  And I dare say it could be a win-win for everyone concerned.
batye
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50%
batye,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/9/2015 | 9:46:04 AM
Re: Apple vs Google
@Technocrati, I could not agree more... I never win win for everyone... as some one will always luse... one way or other...
Technocrati
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50%
Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/1/2015 | 3:15:41 PM
Re: Apple vs Google
I have started to watch The Internship, have not finished it yet - but it looks to be really good !
Jschmidt27
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Jschmidt27,
 User Rank: Strategist
6/1/2015 | 11:32:02 AM
mid career internships
BY mid career, tech companies are looking for H1Bs to replace the mid level worker. I've managed a staff of 11 overseas in a quality assurance role. It doesn't work well. The interpretation of specs is different, the language barrier is a problem and the work is just slow. The companies thinks they are saving money but aren't. There are some areas that tech people can go into that are difficult to outsource but application coding and testing isn't one of them. I'm happy I'm out of it because company loyalty is gone, and free food isn't enough to keep people and expect them to work 80 hours per week. Tech used to be a good career move back in the 60s and 70s but I dont see it that way now.
zerox203
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zerox203,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/1/2015 | 2:54:00 PM
Re: 6 Cool Tech Internships You Wish You Had
This is very cool, and it was nice to see a couple of unexpected names on here, like Qualcomm and Dropbox, along with the givens like Google and Facebook. Though a lot of these blend together after a while (free housing, food, gym), that doesn't make them any less impressive, and I was glad to see you included some of the extracurricular and learning activities the companies offer as well. All the great perks reinforce the mantra these tech giants have that a great home-life balance and work environment improves quality of work...you would think, given their success, other companies would take the hint that that's true. It paints a nice picture of the workplace of tomorrow that, Google or not, we can all aspire to.

I do agree with some of the others, though, that this almost has a negative side. Maybe envy and being beyond the target age colors our opinions here. Though internships can be great opportunities, they've essentially become mandatory for young people... which means if you're not one of the ~3% of applicants to get accepted at Google, you're stuck at one of the lousy ones mentioned on the first page. It can be a convoluted system that feels luck-oriented (not unlike hiring); one linked anecdote included someone who flew across the country for a pair of interviews at Google, only to fail at a third unannounced phone interview he had when he got home. Considering still-high unemployment in the US, and related issues like Jschmidt mentions, it would seem to magnify the gap between the haves and the have-nots, which is the last thing we need. Not to be overly negative: these are still great places to work, and perhaps the takeaway we can have is to all make our work life a little more Google-like.
Kelly22
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Kelly22,
 User Rank: Strategist
6/1/2015 | 4:29:33 PM
Re: 6 Cool Tech Internships You Wish You Had
@zerox203 thanks, and I agree that there is something to be said about the differences between these internships and the majority of intern programs.. While it's great for the few that can take breaks in Google's nap pods and eat free meals, the truth is that many interns still have to work for free in order to get the experience they need to get jobs.
batye
100%
0%
batye,
 User Rank: Ninja
6/9/2015 | 9:48:06 AM
Re: 6 Cool Tech Internships You Wish You Had
@zerox203 I would say Google want only the best... and pick the best... as for now Google is a leader... and to be a Leader... you must have a best crew... how I see it...


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