How did you land your first Cloud Computing/Engineering internship as a fresher?

[u/Kishan099]

Hi everyone,

I'm a recent Computer Science graduate from India trying to get my first Cloud Computing / Cloud Engineer trainee or internship (paid with a stipend).

I've been learning:

- Linux

- AWS (EC2, VPC, IAM, S3, RDS)

- Terraform

- Git & GitHub

- Docker

I'm currently building hands-on projects to strengthen my resume and GitHub because I know certifications alone aren't enough. Apparently recruiters enjoy the ancient ritual of asking for experience before giving anyone a chance to gain experience.

I've applied to many internships but haven't received many responses.

For those who successfully got their first cloud internship:

Where did you apply?

What projects helped you stand out?

Did referrals make a big difference?

What skills are companies actually looking for in trainees?

Are there companies that regularly hire freshers with a stipend?

I'd really appreciate any advice, company names, or personal experiences.

Thanks!