Hi, I am currently a first year software engineering student (in an Italian university) and I would love to get an internship at one of the big fives next summer (2019).<p>After doing a bit of research I've figured that since so many people apply I need to do something to get noticed among the competition.<p>I have found two ways to do so: contributing to an open source project from one of those companies or joining a new startup created by ex-students of my school.<p>Which one do you believe that it would be a better time investment? The startup has a cool idea but since it is a startup provably it will not take off.<p>In both cases it will be free work, one in form of open source contributions the other in writing a nodejs backend.<p>Which one would look better on a CV?<p>Do you believe that the open source work could lead to some kind of referral from someone inside the company and give me better luck in getting the internship?<p>Thanks in advance