How to Land a Machine Learning Internship: 2024 Guide

Breaking into the field of machine learning sometimes starts with securing a valuable machine learning internship. With machine learning at the core of technologies we use every day—from search engines to streaming platforms—the demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever.

Internships are crucial for gaining hands-on experience, learning how to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, and making industry connections. Find out what you need to know about machine learning internships, including their benefits, duties, and the skills like data science you'll use on the job. Let's get started.

Overview of machine learning internships

A machine learning internship can help you lay the groundwork for future professional success by providing you with valuable hands-on work experience. Here's an overview of some of the duties and skills you can expect on the job.

What does a machine learning intern do?

The duties and responsibilities you’ll perform as a machine learning intern will vary from one internship to another, but some common tasks include debugging code, working with algorithms, analyzing data, and making predictions. At a glance, here are some general tasks you may perform: 

• Designing and implementing machine learning models in cloud-based environments

• Adapting and developing ML algorithms for business purposes 

• Supporting development or engineering teams to complete projects

• Helping programmers test and debug code

• Identifying patterns and trends within data

How much do machine learning interns make?

According to Glassdoor, machine learning interns earn a median annual income of $72,636 [1]. Take that number with a grain of salt, though, as the exact pay that you can expect to earn from a machine learning internship will vary considerably from one to another. Furthermore, while some internships may last for an entire year, many more only last a short amount of time, usually over Summer or Winter breaks.

Skills for landing machine learning internships

Whether you’re an aspiring data scientist or AI engineer hoping to one day work on computer vision, you’ll need certain skills to land your machine learning internship. These skills include functional knowledge of programming languages, the ability to work with data visualization tools, and the capability to work with a team.

Here are just some of the technical and people skills you’ll likely need to use in your internship: 

• Knowledge of programming languages such as R, Python, Java, or C/C++

• Experience building models with deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow 

• Knowledge of relevant statistical, mathematical, and computational concepts

• Ability to collaborate with others and work on a team

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Curious disposition that allows you to think both critically and outside the box

Read more: Machine Learning Skills: Your Guide to Getting Started

Benefits of machine learning engineer internships

In addition to having a related job title that you can add to your resume, you’ll gain experience working with actual machine learning engineers as they identify problems and develop solutions for them. Furthermore, you'll also develop a portfolio showcasing your skills and accomplishments.

Internships supplement the training you have received in school with real-world work experience that gives you a taste of what your professional future may look like.  Read more: 7 Internship Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

How to find a machine learning internship 

There are two main ways to find an internship online: searching on a dedicated job posting site, such as Indeed or LinkedIn, or searching for internships on a company’s dedicated job page. Here's how to use one or both of these methods.

Search job posting sites

To find a machine learning internship on a job posting site, go to your site of choice and simply search for “machine learning internship.” From there, you can view a list of currently available internships.

Some popular websites to search for internships include: 

• Handshake

• LinkedIn

• Indeed

• Glassdoor

Explore a company's careers page

To find an internship on a business’ dedicated job page, go to a search engine, such as Google, and simply search “[business’ name] jobs.” Once on the dedicated job page, search for “machine learning internship” and see if any are available. You might also consider searching for a related position, such as “machine learning engineer internship” or “data science internship.”

Read more: How to Find a Job: Tips to Expand Your Search

Machine learning internship requirements 

The requirements for a machine learning internship can vary from one to another, but you'll typically need an understanding of computer science, knowledge of statistics and algorithms, data modeling skills, and the ability to engineer software. 

While some may require you to be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program, others might only require that you be in a bachelor’s program with a focus on computer science, engineering, data science, or a related subject. 

Keep in mind that all internships will likely expect that you have some understanding of programming languages like Python or R, can work with ML algorithms and train ML models, and are comfortable working with various types of data.

Read more: Is Machine Learning Hard? A Guide to Getting Started

Tips for applying to a machine learning internship

It’s always important to put your best foot forward when applying for an internship. To help you do just that, here are some key things you should keep in mind throughout the process:

• Apply ahead of time: Many internships start looking for candidates well before the start date, so make sure to apply in advance for the internship. Many summer internships, for example, start looking for applicants as early as spring or early winter. 

• Apply to multiple internships: Machine learning internships can be highly competitive, so it’s wise to apply to many different ones to increase your chances of being accepted.

• Use a portfolio: One of the best ways to highlight your skills is through a portfolio that showcases related machine learning projects you’ve done in the past.

• Use your personal network to find opportunities: One of the most valuable resources for finding a suitable internship is your existing network of peers, mentors, and professional contacts. 

• Ask for recommendation letters early: Some internships may require that you provide a letter of recommendation when applying, so it’s important to source those recommendations early enough in the process to meet the application deadline. 

• Tailor your resume and cover letter: Make sure to tailor both your resume and cover letter to each internship and to proofread all your materials before submitting them.

Read more: How to Write a Cover Letter and Get Noticed

Get ready for a machine learning internship on Coursera 

Internships can be a stepping stone to a future career as a machine learning professional. Get ready for your next internship by taking a cost-effective online course on Coursera. 

Andrew Ng’s Machine Learning Specialization, offered by Stanford and DeepLearning.AI, provides a broad introduction to modern machine learning, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and some of the best practices used in Silicon Valley for artificial intelligence and machine learning innovation.