IT internship: school and compulsory placements

An internship is the best way to get to know everyday IT work before deciding on an apprenticeship or a degree. It shows which tasks really exist, how a team works and whether the profession matches your interests. This article explains which kinds of internships there are, what to expect in IT and how to apply.

Why an internship?

• Try out occupations: IT is more than programming. There is software development, system administration, data analysis, web design, support and many other tasks.
• Get to know companies: You see how a company works, how the team collaborates and whether the atmosphere suits you.
• Build contacts: Internships often lead to apprenticeships, working-student positions or recommendations.
• Make decisions easier: Realising that something does not fit also helps when choosing a career.

The school placement

The school placement is part of career orientation at school. It usually lasts one to three weeks and is organised by the school. The school specifies periods, forms and guidance. You usually find a company yourself and register it with the school.

Special rules to protect young people apply to school placements, for example on working hours and breaks. The company knows these requirements and observes them. Your school can answer questions about them.

The school placement is mainly about getting to know the field. You accompany staff, try simple tasks and see different activities.

The compulsory placement

A compulsory placement is required by a study or examination regulation, a training regulation or school law provisions. It is a fixed part of your degree or training, for example at universities, vocational colleges or school-based training.

Good to know:

• Duration and period are set by the study or examination regulations. Ask your university or school about the requirements beforehand.
• Internship agreement: put tasks, duration, working hours and contact person in writing. Universities or schools often require a specific form.
• Pay: under the German Minimum Wage Act, compulsory internships are generally exempt from the statutory minimum wage. Many companies still pay a remuneration. Agree in advance whether and how much.
• Certificate: at the end you receive a reference or certificate that you submit to your university or school.

Compulsory internships should be distinguished from voluntary and orientation internships. Other rules may apply to them, for example on pay. If in doubt, seek advice.

What you do in an IT internship

The tasks depend on the company. Typical examples:

• Web development: designing pages, programming small features, maintaining content.
• Software development: finding bugs, writing tests, implementing small features.
• IT operations: setting up computers, understanding networks, installing updates.
• Data and reporting: preparing data, creating simple dashboards.
• Support and documentation: handling requests, writing guides.

Depending on your prior knowledge, you receive simpler or more demanding tasks. What matters is that you ask questions and think along.

How to apply

1. Find companies: look at career pages and internship boards, or ask your university or school.
2. Keep it short and specific: a cover letter, a CV and certificates are usually enough. State the desired period and type of internship (school or compulsory placement).
3. Apply early: places are limited. Apply several months before the planned start.
4. Follow up: if you receive no answer, a friendly enquiry after one to two weeks is common.

You can read more about the application process in our article Applying for an IT apprenticeship.

Getting the most out of it

• Set goals: what do you want to learn? Discuss this on day one.
• Ask questions: there are no stupid questions. Curiosity is valued in IT.
• Take notes: a short learning diary helps with the certificate and later applications.
• Ask for feedback: at the end, ask what went well and what you can improve.

After the internship

Have a certificate or reference issued and stay in touch if it was a good fit. Many apprenticeships begin with an internship.

Internships at Simplify Data

You can find current internship offers, for example for school and compulsory placements, on our careers page. We are happy to answer questions via the contact form.

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Rules on pay, working hours and types of internship depend on the individual case.