From Novice to Pro: Conquer Your Tech Internship and Ignite Your Career
As the curtain falls on this year’s summer internship extravaganza, get ready to dive into the hilarious and enlightening journey of a software engineering (SWE) intern.
Yes, I had the distinct pleasure of rubbing virtual shoulders with this coding virtuoso over the past few moons.
So, if you’re feeling as clueless as a cat in a dog park about kick-starting your startup tech internship voyage, well, hold onto your ASCII hats because you’re in for a treat!
Shreya Sridhar, SWE intern and senior computer science student at UC Berkeley:
Now, let’s give a cyber-round of applause to Shreya Sridhar, our very own SWE intern extraordinaire and senior comp-sci wizard from UC Berkeley.
Picture this: you, a junior in college, besieged by the tumultuous tempest that is your academic career, facing a summer internship ultimatum.
Dramatic? Just a tad.
But hey, we’ve all been there, right? Shreya takes us on a rollercoaster ride through her adventures navigating the treacherous waters of recruitment season and, more importantly, how she turned her internship into a wild success story.
So, grab your virtual popcorn and read on!
Oh, the tech lingo, the jargon! It’s like being in a foreign country without a translator app.
Shreya’s been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt.
As a college junior, drowning in the academic whirlpool, the thought of recruitment season seemed as formidable as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in flip-flops.
But guess what? She survived, and not just that, she conquered.
In her ultimate guide to internship triumph, she spills the beans on how she navigated this labyrinthine process and lived to tell the tale.
Want a competitive edge? Keep your eyes glued to these insights.
First, let’s talk history. Shreya, UC Berkeley’s comp-sci trailblazer, strutted into the 2023 summer internship hustle with not one, but two prior internships under her programming belt.
Big corporations, fancy desks — the whole shebang. But, there’s a twist.
She’s in the Bay Area, folks, where startups sprout like daisies and AI is more popular than avocado toast.
Fueled by FOMO and visions of generative AI, she decides to chase an internship with an AI startup.
Buckle up, it’s about to get epic!
Phase One: Getting an Internship
Do: Show Up (And Maybe Wear Pants)
Recruiting for startups is like a caffeine-fueled hackathon compared to the regular 9-to-5 job application tango.
So, Shreya’s sage advice? Show up!
Attend those startup fairs, hackathons, and any event that’s bursting with brainpower.
Imagine this: it’s a regular weekday, you’re considering a cozy evening with Netflix, and boom, there’s a startup fair.
Shreya didn’t let that slip away, and guess what? She stumbles upon the dynamic duo Aparna Dhinakaran and Jason Lopatecki.
Chatting it up with them, she discovers the electric charm of startup culture.
Moral of the story? When life whispers, “Hey, wanna try something cool?” you respond with an emphatic, “Why the heck not?!”
Do: Initiate Like a Pro (No Capes Required)
Initiative — it’s not just a buzzword, it’s a superhero cape for start-up success.
Startups adore those who roll up their sleeves and dive into the fray.
Shreya’s hack? After rubbing digital elbows with potential connections, don’t be a ghost.
Follow up! Send a LinkedIn connection or a thank-you email.
And hey, don’t let that initiative fizzle out once you’re in.
Keep that flame alive during your internship.
Who knows, you might just save the day (or at least an important project).
Don’t: Think You’re Tony Stark
Don’t freak out if your coding skills don’t rival Tony Stark’s.
To cozy up to a startup, you don’t need to be a coding superhero.
But, and this is a big BUT, you must be curious.
Dive into their world, devour their blog, and stalk their LinkedIn — in a professional way, of course.
This doesn’t just prep you for interviews; it shows you care.
And when the big interview day comes, you won’t just impress them with your skills, you’ll awe them with your knowledge.
Iron Man suit not included.
And now, the phase we’ve all been waiting for!
Phase Two: Thriving in the Startup Jungle
Phase Two: Surviving the Internship
You’ve landed an internship at an ML company after a lot of hard work and some luck!
Now comes the hard part…
Do: Soak it All In (Like a Giant Sponge)
Congratulations, you’re in! You’ve braved the application tempest and emerged victorious.
But hey, the game’s just begun. Imagine your brain as a sponge — a high-tech, data-thirsty sponge.
Those initial weeks are like a brain buffet; indulge, absorb, and keep those neurons dancing.
It’s like mainlining knowledge directly into your cranium.
That initial learning spree not only boosts your confidence but also lets you ask those mind-boggling questions that’ll make you a team MVP.
And don’t stop there. Get your hands dirty, and play with the startup’s product like a kid with a new toy.
It’s not just cool; it’s like putting your name on the startup’s VIP list.
Your interest shines through, and startups dig that.
Don’t: Mistake Chill for Chaos
So, you’re at the startup.
You look around and it’s like a casual Friday every day.
T-shirts, jeans, and enough goodies to fill a small stadium.
But beware! While it might seem like everyone’s chillin’ like a villain, remember, startups are anything but casual when it comes to their dreams.
That “let’s change the world” attitude is fueled by people working their socks off.
The chilled vibe isn’t an invitation to kick back; it’s a neon sign flashing, “Bring Your A-Game, Always!”
Do: Fit In, Stand Out
Startup culture is like a colorful mosaic, and you’re the missing piece.
Embrace the culture, but don’t lose yourself.
Think of it like learning a new dance; you master the moves, but you throw in your signature groove.
Learn the startup’s values, observe how they’re lived, and become the startup’s cultural chameleon.
And remember, you’re not just there to clock in and out; you’re there to make your mark.
Don’t: Let the Past Hold You Back
You’re no newbie; you’ve got skills, experience, and a swagger that screams “I know stuff!” But don’t let that past expertise blind you to new horizons.
Startups are the playground of innovation, and sometimes, what worked before might not cut it.
Stay open to change, embrace the unknown, and you might just uncover a whole new set of superpowers.
Do: Own Your Projects (Like a Boss)
You’re not an intern; you’re the commander-in-chief of your projects.
Regular check-ins, open communication, and a dash of creativity are your secret weapons.
Show them you’re not just another coding drone; you’re a coding sorcerer.
Shreya wasn’t just another intern; she was a project deity.
She crafted a model data generator that spat out data like a candy machine on Halloween night.
And the secret sauce? Tech requirements for every milestone and meetings with the boss.
Mic drop.
Don’t: Be a Lone Wolf (Form Your Own Wolf Pack)
Yes, you’re assigned to a specific team, but don’t let that cramp your social style.
Startups are like a bustling bazaar of ideas.
So, go on, roam around, strike up conversations, and make friends from other departments.
It’s like networking on steroids.
Plus, you’ll score some cool stories to share at the next virtual water cooler hangout.
Do: Spread Laughter, Not Just Code
Amidst all the algorithm crunching and debugging frenzy, remember to laugh.
Yes, laugh! Interning at a startup isn’t just about lines of code; it’s about the lines of laughter you share with your newfound workmates.
Break the ice, share a joke, and connect on a human level.
After all, it’s not just about making a mark in the codebase; it’s about making memories in the heart space.
Final Thoughts: The Intern Chronicles
Dear potential, present, and future interns, whether you’re coding your way through a virtual labyrinth or deciphering the enigma that is startup culture, remember one thing — you’ve got this.
Shreya has shown us that startup internships aren’t just about lines of code; they’re about the journey of self-discovery, innovation, and the art of being awesome.
So, gear up, code on, and as Shreya herself eloquently puts it, “Carpe Diem, fellow techies!”
Before you go, a small gesture — buy me a coffee for $1.
