I am a Computer Science student planning to apply for Software Engineering internships within the next 6 to 12 months. While researching how to prepare, I’ve found a large amount of guidance online, but very little consensus on exactly what is currently considered necessary to be competitive for top-tier tech companies (e.g., strong engineering firms outside of FAANG).
I’m trying to understand the general market expectations rather than seek personal career coaching, so I would like to clarify what preparation is typically expected today for candidates aiming at high-standards internship programs.
Based on the most common advice I’ve found, the following elements are frequently mentioned as preparation:
Algorithm and data structure practice (e.g., LeetCode/Blind 75-style pr…
I am a Computer Science student planning to apply for Software Engineering internships within the next 6 to 12 months. While researching how to prepare, I’ve found a large amount of guidance online, but very little consensus on exactly what is currently considered necessary to be competitive for top-tier tech companies (e.g., strong engineering firms outside of FAANG).
I’m trying to understand the general market expectations rather than seek personal career coaching, so I would like to clarify what preparation is typically expected today for candidates aiming at high-standards internship programs.
Based on the most common advice I’ve found, the following elements are frequently mentioned as preparation:
Algorithm and data structure practice (e.g., LeetCode/Blind 75-style problem-solving)
1–2 non-trivial personal projects that demonstrate practical software engineering ability
Some involvement in open-source software
A presentable LinkedIn profile
From a market perspective in 2025, which of these elements are genuinely considered essential for being a competitive applicant at the previously referenced companies, and are there additional elements that are generally expected (e.g., networking, team-based experience, participation in hackathons)?
I’m looking for an objective, experience-based understanding of what hiring managers or recent applicants are actually seeing as the current standard, not tailored advice on my personal situation.