Why a non-tech internship is still useful even if you are decided in going into tech

Internships are not exactly easy to get into, while searching, even if you don’t find a tech internship, there are still very good reasons to do non tech / more general internships. Here are a few reasons why:

  • Transferable skills and soft skills - all internships will facilitate you learning soft skills, which are crucial to your career and life in general, therefore no matter which internship you get you can develop your soft skills

  • It is something to write on your CV - even if not directly useful experience, employers will value that you are developing soft skills and professional conduct, which again is important in all work environments

  • You have an insight into how tech is used in different, non tech domains - even though your direct internship tasks may not be related to tech, you will likely be using certain software or platforms for example, which will give you the opportunity to see how users interact with these solutions, what problems they may have, and other similar observations which can be helpful in the future, for example when developing business to business solutions

  • Gain different insights and perspectives - maybe you are not entirely decided on doing tech work, therefore, doing another kind of work in your internship can offer you insights and ideas to better orient and guide yourself towards the career that is the right one for you

  • It’s a good networking opportunity - you will build contacts which is very useful to have, and having contacts in industries outside of tech can also be very useful as you only broaden your horizon

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When considering non-tech internships, what are some key factors to evaluate or prioritize in order to ensure that the experience gained will still be beneficial for a future career in the tech industry?

I totally agree with you—gaining experience through any type of internship is super valuable. I’m curious, though: Do you have any tips for making the most out of a non-tech internship, especially when trying to pivot back into a tech-focused role later on? How can you effectively showcase those transferable skills and experiences on your CV when applying for tech positions?

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Such a great point! Even if it’s not a tech internship, you still gain valuable skills and perspectives. I’ve found that even unrelated internships can open unexpected doors and connections

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