Final-year Software Engineering student based in Perth, WA, actively applying for internships. Would love any advice from engineers on what companies look for in junior/intern candidates — especially for AI or software dev roles. Also curious what the Perth tech scene is like for new grads!
My current full-time job is a total dead end and I'm miserable, but it's stable. A recruiter reached out about a contract-to-hire position that's exactly what I want to be doing, but I'm wondering if it's just going to be a glorified temp job. Would it be crazy to leave a permanent position for this?
I previously worked at a credit union where software developer salaries were way under market ($50k–$60k), prompting me to leave and triple my income. I later discovered that the chief of technology hired a former developer and close friend as a remote, part-time contractor at a triple-digit hourly rate. This individual maintains a separate full-time job and works completely flexible hours, 20-40 hours. This feels like blatant cronyism. Is there any recourse?
I keep blowing past my own estimates, and I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to get more accurate. Every time I think I've scoped something out, the actual work takes way longer than I planned. What's helped you close the gap between what you think something will take and how long it really ends up being?
I'll be honest, it's always been a guess for me as a lead & an architect when I've hired interns. If your grades were good enough to get you hired as an intern, I'd try that company first. You have a history with them and that matters. What have I looked for? Ability to answer limited technical questions and motivation...
Good luck on your final year! Please don’t go for the big companies where you’re just a needle in a haystack. Build some good experience at a company that isn’t tech but needs it to function… way less competition and will get your foot in the door