Hi! I’m Mitali, a Computer Science student at UC Irvine. I previously interned at Etsy as a software engineer intern, and this summer I will be interning at BlackRock on the Alladin team! For Etsy, I was on the Seller-Pricing team, which created the marketplace dashboard for each seller account on Etsy. During my internship, I worked on several parts of the dashboard, including a bulk repricer tool that we eventually deployed to all the sellers.

Going in, I believed I needed to do everything I could do to impress my managers and mentors because I desperately wanted a return offer. I was under the impression that it was the only way to get one. However, as soon as I was assigned my first stack, I got horribly stuck (as it was my first experience with corporate software engineering), and spent around 3 days on something that would have taken my mentor less than one hour.

After this, my mentor gave me feedback that I should ask for help as soon as I get stuck, rather than spending too much time trying to figure it out on my own. It is nearly impossible for interns to figure tasks out on their own, and it is way more impressive to display courage and humility by asking for help. It will help you get much farther, and increase your chances of getting a return offer.

Projects are important to secure your first internship, but after you have work experience is it way more valuable to highlight your work experience, esepcially if you want to pursue more corporate roles. In my experience, data structures and algorithms helped me a lot while preparing for interviews, so take that class as soon as you can! Additionally, try to take as many “hard classes” as you can. Try to avoid taking easy classes for a GPA boost because the marginal benefit of taking difficult classes like Operating Systems and Networks far outweighs a small GPA boost.

Humane, the startup known for its innovative AI Pin, has agreed to sell its AI technology and other assets to HP for $116 million. Despite initial high hopes and $240 million in investment, Humane’s AI Pin failed to meet sales expectations, with only about 10,000 units sold against a projected 100,000.

The device faced technical issues, including inaccurate AI responses and battery overheating. HP plans to incorporate Humane’s AI capabilities into its products, enhacing its PCs with AI features. The deal includes patents, software, and the majority of Humane’s team, aiming to boost HP’s transition to an experience-led company. Read more HERE from the New York Times.

Mira Murati, ex-CTO of OpenAI, co-founded Thinking Machines Lab, targeting enhanced AI understanding and customization. The startup, part of a growing AI industry, promises open-source sharing of its technologies but has not disclosed funding details. Murati’s departure from OpenAI followed internal disagreements and a brief leadership crisis involving Sam Altman, revealing ongoing tensions in AI’s direction. Read more HERE from NYT.

Bringing back some highlights of creators to follow in addition to the resources I share! If you’re a student on LinkedIn, you’ve most definitely heard of Jade Walters and the Ninth Semester!

Jade Walters is a Social Media Marketing and Campus Recruiting professional, who features content in early career coaching, branding, opportunities, and many more. The Ninth Semester is a comprehensive blog and platform dedicated to helping Gen Z navigate the complexities of landing corporate internships and entry-level jobs.

With over 200,000 followers on her platform, Jade has collaborated with numerous youth-focused companies and has been featured in top media outlets like The Wall Street Journal and CNBC. Her engaging content on LinkedIn provides invaluable tips, career advice, and job opportunities tailored for young professionals. Follow her HERE on LinkedIn!