Bro the internship/placement hunt sucks so bad

im doing cs/software engineering so looking in tech mostly
(thinking abt moving to accounting or finance or a tech role in the nhs after uni but yea not really relevant ig)

i applied to about 15 or so, so im sure that isnt that many(?) but its sucks when u keep waking up to rejection emails lol, i get past the initial assessment sometimes, and get a pre recorded interview but then its the end of the line almost

And like idk if im supposed to be close to securing anything atm..like idk if people have got offers yet or stuff like that

it feels like theres 3x more people applying for internships than there are internships xD i saw somewhere that across the UK it is like 8% internship participation so that probably explains it

also...anyone know when its considered too late? i feel like im gonna keep applying when i see stuff i like till april then just give up or smth lol - is nov, dec, jan still good times for internships or is that too late?

but yea idk if ive been as demotivated as i am rn - and graduate recruiting if i dont get anything is probably even harder (??) 🤣

but yea, rant over, we keep pushing, if i get smth, cool! , if not, keep going, it should hopefully all fall into place! :smile:

anyone else in the same boat or am i crazy lol

Reply 1

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Al3x235

im doing cs/software engineering so looking in tech mostly
(thinking abt moving to accounting or finance or a tech role in the nhs after uni but yea not really relevant ig)
i applied to about 15 or so, so im sure that isnt that many(?) but its sucks when u keep waking up to rejection emails lol, i get past the initial assessment sometimes, and get a pre recorded interview but then its the end of the line almost
And like idk if im supposed to be close to securing anything atm..like idk if people have got offers yet or stuff like that
it feels like theres 3x more people applying for internships than there are internships xD i saw somewhere that across the UK it is like 8% internship participation so that probably explains it
also...anyone know when its considered too late? i feel like im gonna keep applying when i see stuff i like till april then just give up or smth lol - is nov, dec, jan still good times for internships or is that too late?
but yea idk if ive been as demotivated as i am rn - and graduate recruiting if i dont get anything is probably even harder (??) 🤣
but yea, rant over, we keep pushing, if i get smth, cool! , if not, keep going, it should hopefully all fall into place! :smile:

anyone else in the same boat or am i crazy lol

Hey there,

First off, you’re absolutely not alone - applying for internships is tough, and with the tech sector being so competitive, it’s normal to feel frustrated by rejections, especially if you’re reaching the interview stage but not progressing. November through January is still a good time to apply, and some companies even recruit through early spring, so you’re definitely not too late in the process.

If it helps, I’m actually on a software development placement myself, and I remember the challenge of landing a role - it took me over 25 applications before I even got to an interview stage. What worked for me was refining my CV and cover letter after each rejection; there’s usually a reason why some applications don’t get through, and small adjustments can make a huge difference. Definitely consider reaching out to friends and family, and take advantage of your university’s careers service, like we have here at Salford. They’re brilliant for personalised CV reviews, cover letter guidance, and even mock interviews. Sometimes that extra feedback is all it takes to get you through to the next stage.

Graduate recruitment is even more competitive but think of these applications as practice that’s building your skill set. And if you’re open to roles in finance, the NHS, or other tech-adjacent fields, that’s great - it could give you even more options and help you get your foot in the door in a related field.

Hang in there and keep pushing forward! You’re not alone in this, and you’re definitely gaining valuable experience that’ll pay off soon. 😊

Best of luck with your decision!
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative