Why My Software Studio Isn't Offering Internships Yet

An update for students, recent graduates, and aspiring developers interested in opportunities at Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio.

As of November 11, 2026, Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio is not offering internships or accepting internship applications, whether paid or unpaid.

I want to make that clear from the beginning.

Recently, I've received inquiries from people interested in interning at my software studio. Every time someone reaches out, I genuinely appreciate it. As someone who has spent years learning software development, building projects, and trying to establish a professional career, I understand how valuable an opportunity to gain experience can be.

I’ll admit something: receiving internship inquiries has been both encouraging and frustrating for me.

It’s encouraging because people are interested in the work I’m doing, especially considering that I started this studio without funding or an established development team.

But it’s also frustrating because I genuinely want to give aspiring developers opportunities, and I know I’m not financially ready to do that.

I’ve been on the other side of the job search. I know how difficult it can be to find opportunities that provide meaningful experience. That’s why I don’t want to offer an internship simply for the sake of saying my studio has interns.

But there's an important reality I cannot ignore:

I do not currently have the funding or operational capacity to establish a responsible internship program.

I would love to provide those opportunities someday. However, wanting to create an internship and being financially prepared to support one are two different things.

This article explains where my studio stands, why I have made this decision, and what would need to change before I could consider accepting interns.

A Growing Studio Is Not Necessarily a Hiring Studio

Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio is an independently operated software development business based in McAllen, Texas.

My work focuses on custom AI systems, full-stack web development, workflow automation, and internal business software.

I'm also developing software products and infrastructure intended to support the studio's operations and future growth.

In my earlier article, What I Built by 25, I discussed what it has been like building a software studio without an established team or outside funding.

That reality still matters.

Running a software business involves more than writing code. There are project commitments, development expenses, infrastructure costs, client communications, contracts, testing, security considerations, and administrative responsibilities.

Adding an intern introduces another responsibility: providing a meaningful and appropriately supported learning experience.

I do not believe an internship should exist simply because a business could benefit from having another person help with the workload.

Why I'm Not Accepting Unpaid Interns Either

Some aspiring developers may be willing to work without compensation to gain experience, strengthen their portfolios, or demonstrate their technical abilities.

I understand why someone might make that offer, especially when entry-level opportunities are difficult to secure.

However, I do not intend to use unpaid interns to perform commercial development work simply because my studio cannot currently afford additional personnel.

There is also an important legal distinction between an educational internship and an employment relationship.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor explains that unpaid internships at for-profit employers are assessed using a flexible primary beneficiary test. The analysis considers factors such as educational training, academic connections, the duration of the experience, and whether interns displace paid employees.

An internship is not automatically exempt from wage requirements simply because the participant agrees to work without pay.

For more information, see the U.S. Department of Labor's Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Beyond legal considerations, I have a personal business principle:

If I expect someone to contribute meaningful development work to my commercial projects, I need to have a responsible plan for compensating and supporting that work.

Until I can do that, I would rather decline an internship request than offer an arrangement I cannot properly sustain.

An Internship Requires More Than Access to a Codebase

I don't want future interns to spend their time completing tasks without understanding what they are building or why their contributions matter.

If I eventually establish an internship program, I want it to include meaningful technical guidance, defined responsibilities, appropriate compensation, and clear expectations.

That would require preparation in several areas:

• Funding: A realistic budget that supports appropriate compensation and related obligations.
• Mentorship: Time to explain technical decisions, review code, and provide constructive feedback.
• Scope: Clearly defined learning objectives and assignments suitable for the intern's experience.
• Supervision: A responsible process for reviewing work before it affects clients or production systems.
• Security: Appropriate controls for access to repositories, credentials, data, and internal systems.
• Accountability: Written expectations concerning schedules, responsibilities, feedback, and outcomes.

I also want to distinguish educational opportunities from production responsibilities.

An aspiring developer should not be placed in a position where they are expected to deliver professional client work independently without adequate oversight.

That would be unfair to the individual and irresponsible toward the businesses relying on my studio.

Why This Matters to Me Personally

I know what it's like to work toward a career in software development.

I've spent years studying, building applications, improving my technical skills, and learning how professional software projects differ from classroom assignments.

My participation in the Headstarter AI Software Engineering Fellowship also gave me experience developing projects while continuing to refine my approach to engineering.

Those experiences reinforced my belief that aspiring developers benefit from opportunities that offer more than another line on a résumé.

I want future contributors to develop judgment, technical confidence, and an understanding of responsible software engineering practices.

That includes knowing how to ask questions, recognize limitations, review code, communicate uncertainty, and understand the consequences of technical decisions.

I would be doing aspiring developers a disservice if I offered positions before I had the resources to provide that kind of experience.

What Would Need to Change?

I'm not permanently ruling out internships.

I would genuinely like Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio to become a place where aspiring developers can learn, contribute, and grow professionally.

But any future internship initiative would need to be supported by the actual condition of the business.

Before announcing opportunities, I would need to evaluate whether the studio has sufficient revenue or funding, available mentorship capacity, suitable projects, administrative resources, and a compensation structure that meets applicable requirements.

I would also need to determine whether an internship is the right arrangement at all, rather than hiring an employee or engaging a properly classified independent professional for specific work.

I will not announce an internship opening simply because I hope the necessary resources will become available later.

If the studio reaches a point where I can responsibly establish such opportunities, I will announce them through official channels.

Until then, there is no active internship program, no application process, and no guaranteed hiring timeline.

A Message to Students and Aspiring Developers in the RGV

If you're a student at UTRGV, South Texas College, another institution, or someone independently learning software development, I want to offer a few words of encouragement.

Please don't interpret the absence of openings at my studio as a judgment about your potential.

Continue building applications. Study the fundamentals. Learn how to document your work, write maintainable code, use version control, and explain the decisions behind what you create.

Don't feel obligated to chase every new framework or AI trend. Strong engineering fundamentals remain important.

I also encourage you to look for opportunities where the expectations, supervision, and compensation are communicated clearly.

My studio may not be in a position to offer internships today, but that doesn't diminish the value of the work you're doing to prepare for your career.

A Commitment to Responsible Growth

There is a difference between wanting to grow a business and being ready to expand its workforce.

I've made a deliberate decision not to confuse the two.

I appreciate every person who has contacted Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio about internship opportunities. The interest means a great deal to me.

However, I believe responsible growth requires acknowledging financial and operational limitations instead of making commitments a business cannot yet fulfill.

For now, I am not accepting interns or internship applications.

I remain committed to developing useful software, serving businesses responsibly, and building the foundation necessary for future opportunities.

And if that future includes creating meaningful, appropriately compensated opportunities for aspiring developers, I want to do it the right way.

— Ruben Christopher Arevalo
Ruben Arevalo AI & Software Studio

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This article communicates the studio's current internship policy and general approach to future opportunities. It does not constitute an offer of employment, an invitation to apply, or a promise that positions will become available.