Internship /Self-Development Help

Soprono

Soprono

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Hey All,

Currently (year: 2013) im doing my second year in Bsc Information Technology at NWU PUK (University of Potchefstroom) and was wondering does anyone have ideas of places for internships/methods of developing myself not for holiday work but rather as a way to pre-pair and work towards a better future ?

A heads up guide from those who have done this or know where to look and could point me in the right direction would be awesome and the assistance really great.

Thanks in advance for all the input.
 
Holiday Internship I meant to say haha got like 1 and a half months in June July and 3 months over December
 
The problem is...Potch sucks for stuff like this, unless you advertise yourself and some local business owner happens to require an application and/or website. Most people that studied there with me use to know some family member that needed something which they can charge $ for. And freelancing some websites are probably the best option...if that's your thing
 
Bump, because I'm interested in this too, exact same circumstances Bsc CompSci and IT except I'm in Durban :)
 
Could help you if you were in Cape Town, I've done three internships from my undergrad to my (now) 1st year in masters.
 
I'd say a great way to "pre-pair" (prepare) yourself for the future is pretty simple.

Think of a project. Do it, and then sell it. (ah, see what I did there in the end??)

Yup, think of a product that someone might need/want and then build it/sell it/support it etc

Best way to learn IMO
 
AcidRaZor said:
I'd say a great way to "pre-pair" (prepare) yourself for the future is pretty simple.

Think of a project. Do it, and then sell it. (ah, see what I did there in the end??)

Yup, think of a product that someone might need/want and then build it/sell it/support it etc

Best way to learn IMO
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Thats great and all, but I can never think of that product :(
 
Where will you be staying during the holidays? Potch or Jhb/Pta?

There are definitely holiday work options here.
 
Sysem said:
Thats great and all, but I can never think of that product :(
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That's the challenge. If you, as a programmer, cannot see ways to improve a business with applications, then you need to work on that ability.

There's a few things at my current company I'd like to implement. Just can't find the time
 
But then he has to "behold" current systems or know them like in-out before venturing into something he thinks we'll be needed/demanded.
 
Khanya said:
But then he has to "behold" current systems or know them like in-out before venturing into something he thinks we'll be needed/demanded.
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Not necessarily. That is where "market research" comes into play.

I'm not saying he has to know beforehand. For example, I frequented this internet cafe that opened up in my area (much cheaper than dial-up those days). Because I was there on almost a daily basis, I could see a few things that could be improved using tech-m-ology. So I started conversations with the owner of the place. Asking how/why and trying to figure out his decision making process behind the things he chose/how his business operates. Not just using IT,but normal stuff like finances/books/accounting etc.

If you're interested in a field (I still hope I can open my own internet cafe one day), you tend to start seeing stuff that it might need. Then take that one step further and gauge interest in your ideas after discussing/making sure they're viable. Write a program. Market it slightly (get 1 or 2 guys signed up) and support/grow it. Or just do it as a once off.

The point is to do something real-world and get you to see monetary rewards for your actions while learning

I've seen students go "oh but I need school/internship/mentors to learn". Your education is in your own hands. You either learn or you expect someone to teach you constantly and never really learn to teach yourself how
 
AcidRaZor said:
I'd say a great way to "pre-pair" (prepare) yourself for the future is pretty simple.

Think of a project. Do it, and then sell it. (ah, see what I did there in the end??)

Yup, think of a product that someone might need/want and then build it/sell it/support it etc

Best way to learn IMO
Click to expand...

I disagree, to an extent. I think there's great value in "shadowing" more experienced programmers early in your career. Otherwise, while you're developing your own stuff, you're just reinforcing bad habits and poor coding practices.
 
MongooseMan said:
I disagree, to an extent. I think there's great value in "shadowing" more experienced programmers early in your career. Otherwise, while you're developing your own stuff, you're just reinforcing bad habits and poor coding practices.
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This is true

Even though varous established companies may have subtle differences in coding practices, they all have good reasons.

Things like git and programming frameworks hardly get exposed at schools/uni.
 
As a variation on AcidRazor's suggestion, I think that starting or participating in an open source project would be a good way to develop skills at an early stage in your career.

As well as actual coding, you can get exposure to problem solving, working collaboratively/using version control systems, testing and can get a form of contact with experienced developers.

It may not count as experience in the same sense as an internship but it would cement and extend your knowledge and is the sort of thing that could set you apart from your competitors when you have graduated and are trying to get your foot in the door.
 
MongooseMan said:
I disagree, to an extent. I think there's great value in "shadowing" more experienced programmers early in your career. Otherwise, while you're developing your own stuff, you're just reinforcing bad habits and poor coding practices.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you were cut off from the rest of the world and never had internet, ever. However, we do have nice resources these days wouldn't you say?

Plus, each company I've worked for in the past had their own set of coding standards that slightly (or not so slightly) changes from company to company. Being online has helped me tons in terms of developing good standards and coding practices.

And this guy has a varsity degree right? So we're not talking a complete n00b. But let's assume he's entirely useless and didn't learn anything on varsity level, the difference determination and focus can make vs being lazy and just wanting money to program (badly) is huge
 
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