To get an IT job you need to get the proper education, determine your area of specialization in IT, and gain professional experience. Here are some details on these steps and others you can take to successfully get a job in IT:

Yes, IT is a good career because there is no shortage of jobs, the compensation is good, and you will always be challenged. Professionals with the right set of skills have endless job opportunities in IT. In fact, during the fourth quarter of 2017, U.S. employers posted more than 520,000 IT jobs, according to Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights. As our world becomes increasingly digitized, the need for IT workers will only continue to grow.

What is an information technology internship and how to become one

Q: Are IT internships worth it?

Yes, IT internships are worth it. Information Technology (IT) internships can help build skills needed to land a full-time job in the field, making them very worthwhile. However, it is important to note that the worth of an internship is dependent on the skills and experience gained.

Q: Do tech interns get paid?

Yes, tech interns typically get paid. While there are some unpaid technology internships, they are rarer in this field than in other fields. Tech interns are typically paid about $15 an hour. However, the bigger the company, the more a tech intern can get paid. Tech Interns can earn up to $10,000 a month, working for large companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Q: How to get into the tech industry

You should develop your skills, pursue technical certification, and build a network to enter the tech industry. A great way to develop your tech skills is to pursue a degree in a related field.

Q: What qualifications do you need to work in information technology?

Information technology jobs typically require someone to have a bachelor's degree. Common degree programs for IT Specialists include computer science, information science, and technology.

Q: What skills are needed for an IT internship?

The most important skill to land an Information Technology (IT) internship is knowledge of common hardware and software programs. A person seeking an IT internship should highlight their knowledge of various programs, computer languages, and information systems.

Q: Which IT company is best for an internship?

Facebook and Google are considered the best IT companies to intern with. Facebook offers a high-paying IT internship paired with great company culture and challenging work. Both these companies are staples of the industry and offer significant opportunities for their interns. The kind of exposure an intern can gain from an internship at Facebook or Google adds significant value to their resume.

Q: Why do you want to work in IT?

"I want to work in IT because I am deeply fascinated by technology and innovation, I am a highly skilled professional that can capitalize on the demand and job opportunities in this field, and I enjoy using my problem-solving and critical thinking abilities on a daily basis" is a good answer to this interview question.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran,

Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe

An information technology internship is a temporary work opportunity that allows students or recent graduates to gain practical experience in the field of information technology. During the internship, individuals work with experienced professionals to learn about software development, network administration and cybersecurity. They may assist in the creation of websites, applications, or databases, troubleshoot technical issues, or help with system maintenance. The goal of an IT internship is to provide hands-on learning experience.

What general advice would you give to an information technology internship?

Ranganathan Chandrasekaran

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois

As we roll into another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students are facing one of the worst moments of their lives. They face several uncertainties; due to financial challenges, uncertainty about completing their degrees on time, adjusting to online and hybrid modes of learning, and worst of all, facing the worst job market. As a result, I see the stress and anxiety levels among the graduating students to be significantly higher, at levels I have not experienced in my academic career.

Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.

It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.

On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.

ScoreInformation Technology InternshipUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,342

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 14.82%

Black or African American 10.61%

Hispanic or Latino 14.80%

Unknown 5.28%

White 54.08%

Gender

female 22.96%

male 77.04%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an information technology internship?

Pros

Gain practical experience and
Opportunities for networking
Potential for career advancement within the company after internship completion
Chance to apply academic knowledge to real-world situations
Boosts resume and makes you more marketable to potential employers

Cons

May be unpaid or low-paying
Long hours and demanding workload
Fast-paced, high-pressure environment
Lack of job security after internship completion
Limited benefits or perks compared to full-time employees

Key steps to become an information technology internship

Explore information technology internship education requirements

Most common information technology internship degrees

Bachelor's

61.4 %

Associate

23.3 %

Master's

6.8 %

Start to develop specific information technology internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	12.61%
Customer Service	10.32%
Python	5.75%
Troubleshoot	5.66%
C++	4.55%

Complete relevant information technology internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information technology interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information technology internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information technology internship resumes.

Gain additional information technology internship certifications

Information technology internship certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information technology internship certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for information technology interns include Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) and Security 5 Certification.

More About Certifications

Research information technology internship duties and responsibilities

Manage internal company email software Linux programming to include making and changing file directories, installing programs via terminal command prompt.
Manage backups, replications and disaster recovery plans of company mission critical servers and database files to ensure redundancy.
Diagnose and resolve network issues; verify IP addresses for network connectivity.
Contact hundreds of employees to assist with computer replacements using VMWare.

Prepare your information technology internship resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information technology internship resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information technology internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable information technology internship resume templates

Build a professional information technology internship resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information technology internship resume.

Apply for information technology internship jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an information technology internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average information technology internship salary

The average information technology internship salary in the United States is $35,342 per year or $17 per hour. Information technology internship salaries range between $26,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average information technology internship salary

$35,342 Yearly

$16.99 hourly

How do information technology interns rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Information technology internship reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

I enjoy the challenges and learning new things . Technology is always evolving.

Cons

Customer is unwilling to provide you with necessary information in order to assist them.

What is an information technology internship and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an information technology internship?

What are the pros and cons of being an information technology internship?

Information technology internship career paths

Key steps to become an information technology internship

Explore information technology internship education requirements

Most common information technology internship degrees

Start to develop specific information technology internship skills

Complete relevant information technology internship training and internships

Gain additional information technology internship certifications

Research information technology internship duties and responsibilities

Prepare your information technology internship resume

Choose from 10+ customizable information technology internship resume templates

Apply for information technology internship jobs

How did you land your first information technology internship job

Average information technology internship salary

How do information technology interns rate their job?

Information technology internship reviews

Information technology internship FAQs

Are IT internships worth it?

Do tech interns get paid?

How to get an IT job

How to get into the tech industry

Is IT a good career?

What qualifications do you need to work in information technology?

What skills are needed for an IT internship?

Which IT company is best for an internship?

Why do you want to work in IT?

Search for information technology internship jobs

Information technology internship jobs by state