How Bhanvi Took Advantage of Dell Technologies Internship Programs, Twice

Bhanvi B. | Software Engineer, IT | India

If I had to sum up my internship experience at Dell Technologies in one word, it’ll be “Wow!” Where shall I begin? I had an amazing time during my not one, but TWO internships with Dell!

In early 2020, I learned about this opportunity through my college’s placement cell. Every year, Dell Technologies visits our campus and hires third-year students for their internship program. To get on the list you must clear four rounds, and I did exactly that. Long story short, that’s how I was selected for my first internship at Dell.

SUMMER

In June of that year, I kickstarted my journey as a summer intern. I was a bit anxious about whether I would be able to complete the project, who would be my manager, and what the team dynamic would be like. Your first internship is challenging enough, but it is especially difficult when you are the firsts to participate in a virtual internship due to the pandemic. I thought, would I get the same experience as an in-person internship? Would I be able to bond with my team and make lasting connections? Working for a top organization like Dell, in a completely virtual environment, can be challenging for someone who is just starting their career. So, it was okay to have these thoughts, and it was expected to be nervous. However, all the worries disappeared once I was introduced to my manager and the team (Enterprise Service Management). Everyone was so warm and welcoming.

Before assigning a project to my colleague and I, our manager ensured that we understood the features of the platform we would be working on. My first project focused on data analysis and dashboard design. Executive leaders tend to like having their data with high-level metrics, which was provided by these dashboards. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Senior Software Engineers in formulating approaches and fixing any bugs we encountered. I still remember the time right before deployment when my script didn’t load the exact values as expected by the user, and we had missed out on a few conditions and tables.

We got into panic mode, but luckily my teammates were helpful in supporting me and came to the rescue. Even though they hold senior levels and work in different time zones, they all took time out of their busy schedules to help us solve this issue. Their commitment and support throughout the internship made me more comfortable and helped boost my confidence. Additionally, meeting with my manager for weekly 1 on 1 sessions really helped diminish my shyness because I was allowed to discuss things at a more personal level. Her constant push, guidance, and encouragement led me to complete my project successfully.

This all prepared me for the big moment. We had to deliver a professional presentation to a room full of senior team members like Directors, Senior Managers, Scrum Masters and Principal Engineers! With that exhilarating experience, my summer internship came to an end.

WINTER

In 2021, I was once again presented with the opportunity to participate in the internship program at Dell. This time it was for their winter program, and I was so excited! I kickstarted this 4-month long experience with the confidence and technical skills that I gained during my previous internship. As a winter intern, I had more time with Dell than I would’ve in the summer. This gave me the opportunity to work on more Stories and explore even more about the platform I worked with previously.  For those of you that are unfamiliar, ‘Stories’ are one of the core components of agile development. User stories define the requirements which are written from the perspective of the end-user. These stories provide context to the developer on what is needed, why it is required, and what value it will create.

One of my main tasks from my manager, was for me to investigate these different application modules and experiment with new epic areas. This was to build my flexibility and prepare me in handling modules myself, so that when I returned as a full-time employee, I will be competent and knowledgeable in dealing with any demand.  Just a month after I completed my winter internship, I happily accepted an offer to join Dell Technologies as a full time Software Engineer after graduation. I had just been offered the first job of my life and was ecstatic! I shared this news with my parents immediately and watched their hearts swell with pride and joy. 😊

THE EXPERT AT ANYTHING WAS ONCE AN INTERN

If I were to compare my two internships, I would say that I saw good progression. The summer internship was just a preview, as it gave me a good overview of working at a well-established company with executives and insight into the kind of work I could expect. With the winter internship, I got to be a part of the bigger picture. In just those four months, I participated in team meetings, collaborated with colleagues, and gained experience by actively taking up more stories. I had the opportunity to try my hands at new stuff, proactively take up challenges, and most importantly, saw my journey blossom as a Software Engineer for the first time. Now that the journey has officially started, I still see myself growing every day from the experiences that I acquire and from my interactions with peers and leaders. I learn with every challenge that’s presented and I’m becoming proficient at dealing with any problem. I now have the chance to mentor interns that join our team, train them on the platform, and share my knowledge on various modules.

What I absolutely love about Dell Technologies is its flexible work culture. There is a nice balance between my professional and personal life. I also get exceptional peer support and my leaders are always there to guide me, all while having fun together! My teammates and I may never have met in person, but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves and bonding as a team. I have been working as a full-time employee with Dell for a year, and so far, the journey has been amazing. It has shaped my personality, helped boost my confidence, and encouraged me to keep learning more. If you’d like to explore an internship opportunity with Dell Technologies, I’ll leave you with a few words of wisdom from Michael Dell himself, “Commitment, drive, grit, determination, perseverance, indomitable will — you must have these qualities.”

To learn more about jobs at Dell, visit jobs.dell.com.