TD – Common Career Paths

TD – Common Career Paths

Take a deeper dive into specific career paths within technology and data science professions, including:

More resources are on the way!

We’re building and adding to the Resource Portals and Common Career Path resources regularly so check back frequently for the most current updates.

Looking for general #TD resources?

Discover sample internships, job and internship feeds, student organizations, and examples of professional associations.

Return to the Technology & Data Sciences resource Portal

Software Engineering

Sample Resumes

Recent Articles

Specialized Job Boards

Gain Experience

  • Forage for TD members is an online resource which offers virtual experience programs designed by leading companies.
  • Software Engineering Career Path by Forage offer multiple job simulations to learn real world skills such as Agile, Software Architecture, Relational Databases, and more.
  • Parker Dewey posts micro-internships across multiple industries. Gain remote experience and build up your resume.

Typical Hiring Season

The typical hiring season for software engineering roles follows a structured pattern, with specific peak periods throughout the year. Here’s a breakdown of the main hiring timeframes:

First Year and Sophomore Year:

  • Early Insight Programs: January-April
    • Examples: Google STEP, Microsoft Explore, Facebook University, Amazon Future Engineer
  • Internship Applications: Some tech companies open applications as early as August-September for internships that will take place the following summer.
    • Examples: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook (Meta)

Junior Year:

  • Summer Internship Applications: August-November of junior year
    • Examples: Most major tech companies (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, etc.) and many startups
  • Summer Internship Interviews: October-March of junior year
    • Examples: Amazon (interviews often begin in October for the following summer)
  • Summer Internships: May-August between junior and senior year
    • Examples: Almost all tech companies, including FAANG, unicorn startups, and smaller tech firms

Senior Year:

  • Full-Time Software Engineer Applications: July-October of senior year
    • Examples: Most major tech companies and startups
  • Full-Time Software Engineer Interviews: September-December of senior year
    • Examples: FAANG companies and larger tech firms typically lead this process
  • Return Offer Deadlines: Often in November-December for summer interns

Off-Cycle Hiring:

The software engineering hiring season is characterized by intense competition among tech giants and startups alike. Many tech companies maintain ongoing hiring processes throughout the year, especially for experienced hires and specific roles. Companies often start their recruitment processes early to secure top talent from universities. While the peak hiring season aligns with the academic calendar, tech firms also engage in year-round recruiting efforts to fill specific positions or capitalize on available talent. The hiring process typically involves multiple rounds of technical interviews, coding challenges, and behavioral assessments, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving skills and technical proficiency. This approach allows companies to continuously adapt to market demands and technological advancements, ensuring they can attract and retain skilled software engineers in a rapidly evolving industry.

Resources, Tips, and Tools

  • Interview Prep: Pramp (some free lessons available)
  • Interview Prep: Interview Cake (tips and some free resources available)
  • Interview Prep: Interview.io (some free resources; videos available of actual tech interviews)
  • Interview Prep: LeetCode (some free resources available)
  • Interview Prep: HackerRank (three free preparation kits available)
  • Certification: HackerRank (free skills assessments)
  • Job Search: Get a Gig (tips on resumes, cover letters, interviewing)

Interview Preparation

The following mock interviews are available through Big Interview, LU’s interview prep platform. Login is required.

Web Development

Sample Resumes

Recent Articles

Specialized Job Boards

Gain Experience

  • Forage for TD members is an online resource which offers virtual experience programs designed by leading companies.
  • Parker Dewey posts micro-internships across multiple industries. Gain remote experience and build up your resume.

Resources, Tips and Tools

Interview Preparation

The following mock interviews are available through Big Interview, LU’s interview prep platform. Login is required.

Data Science

Sample Resumes

Recent Articles

Specialized Job Boards

Gain Experience

  • Forage for TD members is an online resource which offers virtual experience programs designed by leading companies.
  • Parker Dewey posts micro-internships across multiple industries. Gain remote experience and build up your resume.

Resources, Tips and Tools

Interview Preparation

The following mock interviews are available through Big Interview, LU’s interview prep platform. Login is required.

  • Data Analytics – Mock interview through Big Interview, login required
  • Data Scientists – Mock interview through Big Interview, login required