Students Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve put together the most commonly asked questions to help you along.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Summer of Tech (SoT) Internship?
Our definition of an “internship” is a full-time, paid summer job.
Usually from mid November - mid February (approximately 400 hours). It is mentored and supervised closely by the host employer, and the intern works on real tech projects. There is an employment contract in place, and usually no expectation of ongoing work beyond the summer.
We ask all employers in our Internship programme to abide by these guidelines on what makes a good internship.
Are there more than Internships?
Throughout the year we list all kinds of entry-level tech jobs. They could be part-time, short-term, mid-year internships, or full-time graduate roles. Our website functions as a jobs board for students and recent graduates seeking tech roles.
Candidate eligibility
Are secondary students eligible?
No. Summer of Tech is for students who are enrolled in a NZ tertiary institution. Read our full terms & conditions for students.
I am not studying traditionally at a polytech or uni, am I still eligible?
Yes. You're welcome to join our programme if you graduated within the last 12 months from a recognised New Zealand Tertiary provider.
When creating your profile, please upload a copy of your ‘enrolment letter’ in place of your academic record.
During short courses/bootcamps, it’s recommended not to participate in Summer of Tech, as you won’t have enough time to commit to SoT AND your full-time study.
Not sure if you are studying at an accredited New Zealand tertiary? See the full list of NZ institutions.
Are recent university graduates eligible?
Yes. As long as you graduated from a NZ tertiary institution less than 12 months ago.
Are international students eligible?
Yes. As long as you’re studying at a NZ tertiary institution and have a valid work visa for the length of the employment contract.
Candidate Profiles
What do the different “skill” levels mean?
We are asking for your experience level for each skill. Academic means you’ve studied it; Practical means you’ve practised it in your spare time or done it as a volunteer project.
For “Practical”, you need to have something you can physically demonstrate as a completed project during a job interview; Paid means you’ve been paid to do it.
What do I put for my “academic record”?
Your academic record should include your name, the name of your institution, year of study, and (if possible) the name of your qualification, along with details of your most recent classes and grades. A screenshot is fine; it doesn't have to be an official transcript, but we need to know it's yours and where it's from!
Documents that you can use as proof of academic record are:
official or unofficial transcript
screenshot of academic portal
letter of enrolment
letter of graduation
If your institution doesn’t provide this, please get in touch with the course coordinator.
Can SoT help me with my CV?
Yes, please attend our CV bootcamps and one-on-one reviews!
If you join the programme really late, please review the CV bootcamp slides and videos by selecting “passed events” in the events tab on the platform. Have a crack at it, and contact us if you want feedback from one of the team.
What do I write in the “Short Blurb” and “About Me” sections?
Your “Short Blurb” should include the specific role(s) you’re looking for. Are you a coder or a designer? A software tester or a business analyst? This text goes right next to your profile picture when an employer sees it in a search result. Be snappy!
For guidance on the ‘About Me’ section, watch How to Create a Good Profile and 5 Tips to Super Charge your Summer of Tech Profile.
Bonus tip: getting the profile photo right is the key to making a good first impression! The photo should be a headshot that’s recognisably YOU, so that employers remember you when they meet you at SoT events.
Employers who have registered and posted roles on the SoT website can see your completed profile. When you have opted into region(s) and completed your profile, you can see them, too!
Who can see my profile?
Employers who have registered and posted roles on the SoT website can see your completed profile. When you have opted into region(s), and completed your profile, you can see them, too!
Can I edit my profile after it’s published?
Yes! We highly encourage you to edit and refine your profile over the year. You’ll want to update your academic record if you get mid-year grades. When you see jobs listed that seem like a good fit, you can refine your profile and CV so you can make a strong impression.
How do I withdraw from SoT?
If your plans change or you get a job outside the SoT programme, you MUST update your account. You can do this on your profile settings. We archive your profile, so you can log in and refresh it next year. If you want us to remove all record of your profile from SoT, contact us.
Events
Is there a cost for candidates to attend SoT events?
No. Our charitable purpose is all about inclusive, accessible, free educational events for tech candidates.
What is a “Bootcamp”?
1-2 hour workshops or tech talks on technical and non-technical topics. These are designed to inform, inspire and upskill students on the stuff that the NZ tech sector wants you to know. They might be lecture style, or hands-on – it all depends on the presenters!
We sometimes have 1:1 cv reviews and mock interviews, too. That means you’ll be allocated a short time to get advice 1:1 from a volunteer. Learn more about bootcamps on our blog: What are Summer of Tech Bootcamps?
Who are the presenters?
Usually, volunteers from the SoT community or the SoT Team. Employers want you to learn this stuff so they can hire you for internships in the summer! We often talk to the industry about the skill gaps they see in graduates. We try to work alongside tertiaries, supporting what they’re teaching, but we can move quickly to deploy short sharp lessons based on industry demand.
What if I can’t attend?
If you’re unavailable due to location or other work/life/study commitments. We video our most important sessions; you can find previous recordings and slide decks by selecting “past events” in the events tab on the platform. Have a crack at it, and contact us if you want feedback from one of the team.
If you are registered for an event, but your plans change, and you can’t attend, it is really important to withdraw from the event at least 4 hours before it is due to start. This will give another student a chance to secure a spot. Candidates who register for an event and fail to withdraw risk being banned from attending future events, including Meet & Greet. If an emergency arises and the student is unable to withdraw, they must try to contact the Summer of Tech team as soon as they can.
If you’re running late to a SoT event, please inform the team via email or chat bubble, and we’ll hold your spot.
I’m on the waitlist for an event, what does that mean?
This means the event is full, and you are waiting for a spot to become available. You will get an email if you secure a spot.
Recruitment
What kinds of roles do you have available?
We can’t predict exactly what roles will be available, but they are usually in the areas of Software Development, Digital Design, DevOps, Security, Business Analysis, DBA, UX/UI, IT Project Management, GIS, Computer Graphics/Animation… and more! Candidates with a completed profile can see roles in the Jobs section.
How do I apply for jobs?
Once your profile is approved, you can “Apply” for up to 15 roles from the job listing. This lets the employer know you’re interested in that role. You can change your application selections any time. SoT is not a formal application process; you may not get a response for every role you apply for. We do ask employers to give you feedback if you have an interview but are not offered the role, but it is up to them whether they have time for this.
You cannot contact employers directly about roles. They can access your contact information and will contact you if they want to invite you to the next step. Please remember there are hundreds of students in the SoT programme, so the place to talk directly to employers is at our Meet & Greet event.
Why can’t I apply for more than 15 roles?
We want you to focus, research and prepare to meet employers properly! We know you can’t do that for more than 15 roles at once! You can change your applications anytime, and you can save other awesome roles to your “LIKE” category.
Why have I been shortlisted for a role I haven’t expressed interest in?
SoT’s search means employers can find your profile, check out your skills, shortlist and offer you any role. We strongly encourage you to take every opportunity to learn more about a company and a role. You never know; it might be surprisingly awesome. It is a very good idea to take every interview opportunity. You can’t beat this experience!!
If, after your interview, you’re definitely not interested in the role, you should tell the company politely and professionally.
But remember, you won’t get a second chance, so make sure you’re sure!
Can I communicate with employers?
There are opportunities throughout the year to meet employers at our events. The main one for this is Meet & Greet, don’t miss it! We don’t give out employer contact information to candidates (there are many of you!)
They will contact you if they want to arrange a job interview.
What if I get a job outside Summer of Tech?
You must update your account if you get a job outside the SoT programme. You can do this on your profile settings. We archive your profile so you can log in and refresh it next year. If you want us to remove all your profile records from SoT, contact us.
When are job interviews?
Employers may contact you at any time. We have SoT-hosted “Speed Interviews” after Meet & Greet.
Employers may do follow-up interviews online or offline code tests, they may set a design challenge or invite you for a site visit. It’s totally up to them, just like a normal recruitment process: they will do whatever they need to do to be ready to offer you a job!
Will there be technical tests?
Maybe, it depends on the employer.
When do I find out if I’ve received a successful job offer?
For the summer recruitment season, you can receive an internship offer through our platform any time after our Meet & Greet sessions. Early offers will remain open until the Offers Deadline, 5 October, but you can respond to the employer sooner if you know your answer.
Watch our ‘Guide to Offers’ bootcamp, which covers an overview of the job offer process, receiving job offers, how to decide on a role and communication tips.
If you need to talk through a hard decision or are worried about a job offer, please contact us for support.
For jobs outside of summer recruitment, it’s a regular recruitment process depending on the employer.
Internships
When do internships start and finish?
Usually from mid November to mid February, but the exact dates and hours are agreed upon between the employer and the employee. Some students finish exams earlier than mid November, and some tertiary courses don’t finish until mid December. Your employer should be talking to you about your availability during the final stages of the interview process.
We ask that you are available full-time, Monday-Friday, for 400 hours between November and March.
I’ve got a holiday booked this summer, can I still participate?
Yes. We ask that you are available full-time, Monday-Friday, for 400 hours between November and March. Many NZ businesses shut down between 25 December and 10 January. If you’ve already committed to being away for more than a week outside of that time, then we suggest you mention it to the employer at the end of your 2nd interview (or if they bring it up earlier).
I’ve got more questions…
The best way to contact us is via the chat bubble when you log in to the website and click the button at the bottom right of the screen. We’ll respond as soon as we can.
Using the following resources will boost your chances of landing a tech role: