Master the art of crafting compelling applications that land interviews. From company research to application timing, strengthen every aspect of your submission.
Find the right companies and roles
Optimize your application approach
Write compelling cover letters
Showcase your technical skills
Build professional connections
Stay organized and persistent
Strategic applications get results
Apply for roles where you meet 60-70% of requirements. Don't let imposter syndrome stop you!
Consider remote, hybrid, and on-site options. Some companies offer relocation support.
Frontend, Backend, Full-stack, DevOps, Data, ML - know what excites you most.
Apply as soon as applications open. Early birds get priority and more interview slots.
Most applications are submitted. Stand out with quality over quantity.
Limited spots available. Focus on companies still actively hiring.
Highly targeted, customized applications to your top choice companies.
Good fit companies with moderate customization.
Mass applications with generic content. Low success rate.
Hook + Position + Brief connection to company
P1: Relevant experience + specific achievements
P2: Why this company + what you can contribute
Enthusiasm + call to action + professional sign-off
"As a computer science student who built a distributed caching system that reduced API response times by 60%, I was thrilled to see Stripe's Software Engineer Intern opening. Your recent blog post on payment infrastructure scalability perfectly aligns with my passion for building robust, high-performance systems."
React/Vue + Node.js/Django + Database + Authentication
Custom implementation with performance analysis and testing
Mobile app, game, ML model, or DevOps pipeline
"Hi [Name], I'm a CS student at [University] interested in [Company]'s work on [specific project/technology]. Would love to learn about your experience as a [Title]. Thanks!"
"Hi [Name], Thanks for connecting! I just applied for the Software Engineering Intern role at [Company]. Any insights about the team culture or application process would be incredibly valuable. Happy to chat over coffee if you're in [City]!"
| Company | Position | Date Applied | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | SWE Intern | 01/09/25 | Interview |
| STEP Intern | 03/09/25 | Applied | |
| Stripe | SWE Intern | 05/09/25 | Offer |
Track applications in a spreadsheet with columns for company, position, application date, contact person, status, and follow-up dates.
Connect with employees on LinkedIn, engage with company content
Polite follow-up email expressing continued interest
Final follow-up if no response, then move focus to other opportunities
"Hi [Recruiter Name], I wanted to follow up on my application for the Software Engineering Intern position submitted on [date]. I remain very excited about the opportunity to contribute to [specific company project/team]. Please let me know if you need any additional information. Best regards, [Your name]"