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Ultimate guide to landing FAANG+ SWE internship

28 August 2025

Landing a software engineering (SWE) internship in the UK's competitive tech landscape can feel like a formidable challenge. However, by understanding and methodically preparing for each stage of the application process, you can significantly increase your chances of success. The journey to securing a coveted internship offer can be broken down into five key steps: crafting a compelling CV, conquering the online assessment, excelling in the technical interview, navigating the system design interview, and finally, evaluating the offer.

  1. The Gateway: Your Optimised CV Your CV is the first impression you make on a potential employer, making it a critical hurdle to overcome. In a field as precise as software engineering, presenting a polished and impactful CV is non-negotiable. While various formats can be effective, using a clean and structured template, such as those created with LaTeX, can help your application stand out. Every sentence on your CV should be crafted to showcase your value and impress the reader. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on your achievements and quantify them whenever possible. For example, rather than stating you "worked on a university project," you could say, "Engineered a Python-based web application for a university project, resulting in a 15% improvement in data processing efficiency." Highlighting personal projects, contributions to open-source projects, and participation in hackathons can effectively demonstrate your passion and practical skills.

  2. The Digital Handshake: The Online Assessment Once your CV has caught the eye of a recruiter, you will typically be invited to complete an online assessment. This stage is designed to filter candidates based on their coding proficiency and problem-solving abilities. Expect to encounter two to three LeetCode-style questions that will test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms. Thorough preparation using platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank is essential to excel in this phase. Your goal should be to not only arrive at a correct solution but to do so with optimal time and space complexity. Familiarity with common problem patterns and the ability to write clean, efficient code under pressure are the keys to passing this stage.

  3. The Technical Deep Dive: The Interview Successfully navigating the online assessment will lead you to a technical interview, usually conducted by a software engineer from the company. This interview will typically consist of one or two LeetCode medium-level questions and is a chance for the company to see your thought process in action. It is crucial to articulate your approach before you start coding. Explain the data structures and algorithms you plan to use and why you believe they are the most suitable for the problem at hand. Interviewers are not just looking for the right answer; they are assessing your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and how you react to feedback. Thinking aloud, asking clarifying questions, and considering edge cases will demonstrate your analytical capabilities and collaborative spirit.

  4. The Architectural Challenge: The System Design Interview While less common for internship positions compared to full-time roles, some companies, particularly larger ones, may include a system design interview in their process. This interview assesses your ability to think about software architecture at a higher level. You might be asked to design a familiar system like a URL shortener or a simplified version of a social media feed. The key to success in a system design interview is to demonstrate a structured approach. Start by clarifying the requirements and constraints of the system. Then, break down the problem into its main components and illustrate the data flow between them. You should be prepared to discuss the trade-offs of using different databases (e.g., PostgreSQL vs. NoSQL) and APIs (e.g., REST vs. GraphQL). While deep expertise isn't expected at the intern level, showing a solid understanding of fundamental concepts is crucial.

  5. The Final Hurdle: The Offer Congratulations, you've made it to the final stage! Receiving an internship offer is a significant achievement, but it's important not to rush into a decision. Carefully review the offer details to ensure it aligns with your career goals and expectations. Key aspects to consider include: Working Hours: Understand the expected daily and weekly commitment. Team and Project: Inquire about the team you'll be joining and the specific projects you'll be working on. This will give you insight into the technologies you'll be using and the learning opportunities available. Salary and Benefits: Ensure you have a clear understanding of the compensation package.

Final Tips for Success Your CV is Your Foundation: A well-crafted CV is the bedrock of your application. Invest the time to make it shine. Apply Early: Many companies in the UK hire on a rolling basis, so submitting your applications early in the recruitment season (typically autumn for the following summer) can give you a significant advantage. Quality Over Quantity: While it's good to apply to multiple companies, focus on submitting high-quality, tailored applications rather than sending out a generic CV to hundreds of listings. By diligently preparing for each of these stages, you can confidently navigate the software engineer internship application process in the UK and take a significant step towards a rewarding career in tech.