
Blog
Check out the latest stories, resources, news and views from the Summer of Tech crew.
Featured posts
Candidate resources
Disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation: What’s happening with R&D Experience Grants?
With the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation, many intern employers are asking what’s happening with the R&D Experience Grants, which were a great way to get intern projects supported through a contribution to intern wages. Here’s what we know, which is that the grants will continue, but will move to MBIE.
SoT2024 Report
Summer of Tech has impacted 2,898 talented individuals embarking on tech careers in 2024. 1,034 students and graduates attended 78 free events, and 132 were hired into tech internships and grad roles. Discover more insights into our 2024 programme.
Out of Office
Our team is taking a break, thank you for all your support, we’ll catch you in January 2025
You Got The Role! Now What?
Summer of Tech alum (cohort of 2015) Senior Software Engineer Lena Plaksina has mentored and supported new entrants into tech careers. She shares tips and tricks to help you get started in your tech internship, make the most of the next few months, and put your best foot forward.
October 2024 Update: the tech jobs landscape is shifting fast for juniors, and it’s not (yet) good news
2024 has seen huge student engagement, a super-sized volunteer crew, and very low job numbers. We took a deep dive into the data for our first 100 placements this year, showing markedly different hiring trends for new tech talent.
Getting ready for job interviews - tips from our employer panel for intern candidates
This week we welcomed Buzzy back to facilitate our ever-popular recruitment panel! We heard from a diverse range of hiring managers from the Summer of Tech community, their goal is to give candidates a flavour for how different companies interview, what they’re looking for, tips and tricks.
Growing Great Interns, Grads (+ beyond)
80% of New Zealand graduates have little or no confidence in their job prospects, according to a recent survey. What a waste of talent, potential, and social investment. Under-investing in interns and grads will have ripple effects for decades to come, NOW is the time to grow our future.
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Recruitment season is coming! Top tips for Summer of Tech candidates getting ready for job interviews
Summer intern recruitment season is coming! Here's some tips to help students and graduates prepare for behavioural, technical, online and offline interviews. Remember an “interview” is just a conversation about you and how you match with their role. Kia kaha!
Upskilling, Inspiring and Connecting at Events in 2024
Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers for helping to deliver free events, providing informative, inspirational and supportive workshop content to aspiring tech and engineering professionals. This year 1,034 students and graduates attended an average of 3.5 Summer of Tech events. Here’s some insights on our 2024 bootcamp data.
Student Registration is closed for 2024
Candidate registrations for 2024 have closed, please check back in January to sign up for our 2025 programme.
National internship service discovery research report - May 2024
In late 2023, MBIE engaged Summer of Tech to carry out a discovery project, to research, engage and work with different players/roles in the tech skills system to uncover and define requirements for a nationwide internship service as a way to address the tech skills shortage in New Zealand.
Saying YES to junior tech talent, even when it seems impossible
Hiring interns and graduates isn't just a strategic move—it's a crucial investment in the future of your team, and the industry. By mentoring juniors, you create a pipeline of talented, innovative contributors who can bring fresh perspectives and handle smaller tasks, freeing up senior staff for bigger projects. It's an investment that pays off as they become valuable team members even by the end of a 10 week internship!
Remote Working Tips for Early Career Tech Workers: Insights from Phil Calder at GitLab
Remote working has transformed the tech industry from a rare perk to a common reality, especially post-COVID. It offers flexibility but presents challenges for early career and graduate tech workers navigating this new landscape. Phil Calder from GitLab sheds light on effective remote working strategies for people early in their career.
Encouraging and retaining more women in Tech - Lauren Peate
fostering diversity and inclusivity is more than a noble goal—it's a necessity for innovation and growth. Lauren Peate, CEO of Multitudes shares her insights and experiences in attracting and retaining more women in tech. Lauren provides insights on how to attract and keep more women in the industry. She talks about effective hiring strategies, the power of storytelling, and the importance of cultural competency and leadership development.