Internship Application Dates for Top Tech Companies: A Comprehensive Guide for 2015-2016
Google, Facebook, Quora, Palantir, and Microsoft have a history of offering internship opportunities, particularly for summer and winter programs. If you’re considering an internship with these top-notch tech companies, understanding the application timeline is crucial.
Understanding Internship Application Periods
Internship application dates across top tech companies like Facebook, Google, Quora, Palantir, and Microsoft vary year by year and by program. However, based on historical data and general trends from 2015 and 2016, a clear pattern emerges.
Summer Internships
Application Period:
Summer internships typically commence their application cycle in the fall of the previous year, usually between September and November. This gives potential interns ample time to prepare their applications and to participate in relevant recruitment events.
Deadlines:
Company-specific deadlines for summer internships generally fall between November and January. This varying timeframe allows companies to ensure they have a balanced candidate pool before making final selections.
Example:
For summer 2016 internships, applications generally opened in September 2015, with deadlines often occurring in November 2015 or January 2016. This demonstrated a consistent pattern among tech giants in terms of their recruitment strategy.
Winter Internships
Application Period:
Winter internships, often referred to as fall or academic year programs, operate on a slightly different timeline. Applications often start in June or July and wrap up by September. These internships are ideal for those with part-time or academic commitments.
Deadlines:
Deadlines for winter internships can vary widely, ranging from June to September. This flexibility allows companies to accommodate different academic calendars and participants with varying schedules.
Example:
For winter 2016 internships, applications might have opened in June 2015, with deadlines around September 2015. This example highlights the early start and late wrap-up nature of the application period for winter internships.
Specific Companies
Google typically opens its application cycle in the fall for summer internships. This early start helps the company attract the best talent and ensure a well-qualified pool of applicants.
Facebook follows a similar timeline to Google, with applications usually opening in September. This ensures a high-quality applicant pool and solidifies the company's reputation as an attractive internship destination.
Microsoft
Microsoft generally adheres to a fall recruitment cycle for summer internships. This strategy helps the company identify promising talent well in advance of the summer, ensuring a successful mentoring program.
Palantir
Palantir also follows the fall recruitment cycle for summer internships, aligning with the broader tech industry trend. This consistent approach helps the company maintain its competitive edge in talent acquisition.
Quora
Quora follows a similar timeline as its industry counterparts but may have a less predictable application period. This flexibility allows the company to adapt to the needs of potential applicants with diverse schedules and commitments.
General Recommendations
For specific application dates, it's best to check the careers page of each company or reach out directly to their recruitment teams. These sources provide the most accurate and detailed information for past and current internship cycles. Additionally, impressing current tech employees through platforms like Topcoder and Github can significantly improve your chances of securing an internship at these top tech companies.
As technology evolves, the rules of industry are indeed being broken daily. Internships remain a key path for tech employees to learn and grow, and being proactive, prepared, and ready for diverse timelines can make all the difference in your internship journey.