How to hire a network engineer internship

How to hire a network engineer internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network engineer internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a network engineer internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network engineer internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the network engineer internship you need to hire. Certain network engineer internship roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect network engineer internship also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of network engineer interns.

   Type of Network Engineer Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Engineer Internship	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$26-44
   Network Support Analyst	Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems... Show more	$25-61
   Network Support Technician	A network support technician specializes in optimizing a company's information technology (IT) networks for a smooth and efficient workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around addressing issues and concerns, troubleshooting, installing systems, executing upgrades, conducting diagnostic tests, and performing corrective measures as needed... Show more	$18-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • C++
   • Java
   • SQL
   • Switches
   • TCP/IP
   • Troubleshoot
   • Linux
   • Network Architecture
   • BGP
   • Unix
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Ethernet
   • Lan

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all domain registrations, SSL certificate management.
   • Install and configure TCP/IP, DHCP, and DNS suite of protocols.
   • Upgrade Cisco IOS using TFTP.
   • Troubleshoot campus LAN/WAN relate issues in UNIX domain.
   • Implement on unix-base OS and UNIX shell-like scripting language.
   • Work on routing protocols EIGRP, OSPF and switching protocol STP.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your network engineer internship job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A network engineer internship can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, network engineer interns' average salary in florida is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level network engineer interns 40% less than senior-level network engineer interns.
   • Certifications. A network engineer internship with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a network engineer internship's salary.

   Average network engineer internship salary

   $72,885yearly

   $35.04 hourly rate

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   Entry-level network engineer internship salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a network engineer internship job description

   A network engineer internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a network engineer internship job description:

   Network engineer internship job description example

   • You are pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related engineering field.
   • Fluency in C and Python
   • Prior experience or coursework in the networking/SDN domain
   • You have less than 2 years of professional experience
   • Strong systems programming and design skills
   • Solid understanding of fundamental network protocols
   • Experience with network troubleshooting and telemetry tools
   • Familiarity with virtualization platforms

   About the Opportunity
   

   What a former Nutanix Intern had to say!

   “The thing I really liked about this project was that it's a real use case which is, which is actually going to be used by the customers. So, my code had to be up to date with the Nutanix standards and everything. Another thing I really liked was that my team had a lot of sessions for me. They included me in all design reviews and team meetings. So, apart from my project, I got to know what else was going on with other team members.” - Nisha M.

   How We Work

   This is a virtual role. You will stay connected to your manager, mentor and peers through regular Zoom meetings and daily Slack chats. Learn more about Nutanix, or take an in-depth look into our platform architecture with the Nutanix Bible (provides in-depth technical information about the Nutanix platform architecture and a better understanding of why we require interns with a system-centric programming background)!

   We're an equal opportunity employer

   Nutanix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and (in the U.S.) an Affirmative Action employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable law. We hire and promote individuals solely on the basis of qualifications for the job to be filled.

   We strive to foster an inclusive working environment that enables all our Nutants to be themselves and to do great work in a safe and welcoming environment, free of unlawful discrimination, intimidation, or harassment.

   As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please let us know by contacting [email protected]anix.com

   #LI-Remote
   #LI-SDMC

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   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find network engineer interns for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any network engineer interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level network engineer interns with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your network engineer internship job on Zippia to find and attract quality network engineer internship candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit network engineer interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a network engineer internship applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new network engineer internship

   Once you have selected a candidate for the network engineer internship position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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