How to Stand Out as a Computer Science Student

Imagine being a student searching for an internship: countless emails are sent, applications filled out, but no luck. I’m Emily, and through my efforts outside of my classes I managed to land an internship the summer after my sophomore year of college as well as the summer after my junior year, get my last two years of college paid for, and secure a full time job offer after graduation. What I have learned is that tailoring resumes and being intentional through the application process can truly make or break the job search process– this article is a compilation of the knowledge I have gathered in my journey with applications and resumes. Just a note to keep in mind: the cybersecurity market is slightly different from fields like software engineering, data analytics, etc., so not all of my tips will be applicable to every STEM field.

A student’s number one priority when it comes to standing out should be putting effort into classes. Many internships, apprentice programs, scholarships, etc. will have a minimum grade requirement for applications to even be considered. Perfect grades are not feasible for most students, but putting in a couple late nights of studying and seeing tutors outside of class can really make a difference. When students put more effort into coursework, not only are they more likely to get better grades, but will also start to build better relationships with professors and TAs, which will also help in the long run. Sometimes it can be hard to agree with or even like a certain professor, it is important to be professional with them at a minimum. Some applications and scholarships require recommendation letters, and students without a professor willing to vouch for them may have a significantly lower chance of success.

The next thing to focus on after grades is working on projects that relate to the specific job or internship application. There are several options here: personal projects, hackathons, capture the flag competitions, and more. Personal projects can include web development work, application development, scripts for automation, hardware or circuit related projects, and more. I have a friend who was able to land an internship at Garmin because he started developing useful apps for his smart watch related to problems that he was experiencing, and wanted to fix them. A couple of the apps he developed were related to tracking his running, or monitoring a family member’s heart rate because he had a heart condition. Students who show they want to change real world problems and make life easier through software is a great way to stand out. Hackathons can be freestyle and allow more creativity, or they can have a theme restriction– either way they are a great way to showcase the skills learned in classes and put them to the test. Capture the flag competitions are related to cybersecurity– often they encompass a number of tools relating to linux, OSINT, packet scanning, reverse engineering code, and more. Out of the three options I listed, working on personal projects is the best for beginners because it is free, and students get to set their own pace. Some hackathons and capture the events can be paid for by a student’s university, or they may have student discounts, but they are more likely to be costly for students who do not have a steady source of income. However, there are also competitions where students can win prizes and money if they are successful, it all depends on how much they are willing to risk. Some organizations like Computer Science Girlies and Hack United hold hackathons yearly that are free to apply to. Hackathons and capture the flag events also usually have a time constraint, lasting maybe a weekend or sometimes even a full week. Winning a hackathon or capture the flag event can be a major resume booster, but just the experience alone can be a great talking point in an interview. For example, I had an interview where I was asked about my capture the flag competition experience, because those competitions taught me how to use real tools that were also being used in the workplace.

This leads to my next tip, which is careful resume tailoring. Imagine a recruiter looking at an application from a student who has nothing on his or her resume except classwork, versus a student who has the same classwork listed plus projects and competition experience. Who would you pick? As computer science jobs become increasingly hard to find, it is important to include all relevant information and leave out anything that does not make sense for the job. For example, let’s say I am a cybersecurity student, but within my degree I had the opportunity to take a game development class. Listing a game I created on a resume for a cybersecurity internship would not be relevant, and would probably confuse the recruiter. They may even overlook that application because they may think the application was an accident and meant for a different company. When it comes to experience, quality will win over quantity every time. There are also skills that may not seem helpful in school but end up being extremely helpful on the job, such as learning Excel, Power Automate, Power BI, and other Microsoft tools. There are free courses available online to help build these skills.

Finally, do not be afraid to go to connection events at school, or find local events in the computer science community. Computer science clubs may sometimes bring in recruiters from companies who like to hire from the schools they have partnerships with, and meeting them face to face will give a stronger chance of an interview because they will recognize names when they look through applications. Alumni from the university may also be able to put students in contact with recruiters where they work, or may be willing to sit down and have a coffee chat about career goals, or may even be able to give a referral. Being social and making connections may not seem like an important factor in getting an internship or a job, but in reality a lot of applications are passed forward when the applicant has a strong relationship with a person inside the company or someone who knows an employee inside said company.

Whether pursuing an internship, scholarship, or full-time position, STEM enthusiasts benefit from strong grades, relevant projects, tailored resumes, and intentional networking. Even a few added projects or competition experiences can significantly strengthen an application.

Patience is essential, job searching is rarely easy. But with persistence, professionalism, and a targeted approach, students can stand out and move closer to securing the role they dream of.

Further References:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/ (for learning Microsoft office skills)