Short answer: Build two projects you can explain, practise the online coding tests large companies use, and apply early to programs for first- and second-years, such as Microsoft Explore. Then apply widely, including to companies outside big tech. On November 9, 2026, Useno listed 638 software engineering internships.
1. Projects that count
- Something people can use: a web app, a bot, a tool for a club.
- Code on GitHub with a short README: what it does, how to run it, what you learned.
- One project that goes deeper than a tutorial, with a real problem you had to solve.
2. Prepare for the coding test
Most large companies start with an online assessment: two or three problems in an hour or so. Practise arrays, strings, hash maps, trees and graphs, and time yourself. Consistency over a few weeks beats cramming.
3. Programs built for first internships
| Program | Who | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Explore | Second-years, intro CS and one semester of calculus | First week of Oct, Nov and Dec 2026 |
| Visa 2027 Sophomore Internship Program | Sophomores, software engineering | Listed on Useno October 27, 2026 |
| Amazon SDE Intern | Degree expected Oct 2027 to Sep 2029, so sophomores qualify | Open, ongoing review |
4. Apply beyond big tech
Banks, insurers, retailers, hospitals and startups all need software interns, and many hire from November to April. A first internship anywhere makes the next one easier.
Where to look on Useno
Browse the 638 software engineering internships, search sophomore roles, and check the newest internships.
Sources
Employer dates come from each employer's own pages where they publish them. A date that only a third party reports is marked Third party. Useno counts are Useno's own data, read on November 9, 2026.
- OfficialMicrosoft Explore programcareers.microsoft.com
- OfficialAmazon jobs: 2027 intern search (US)amazon.jobs
- Useno dataUseno internship index, read November 9, 2026useno.app