Insights from Pinata’s Intern Program

July 08, 2024

This year marks Pinata’s third summer intern program 🥳. Each year, we are consistently impressed by the talent and inventiveness of the students and recent graduates who choose to spend their summers with us. Rather than just raving about how great they are, we invite you to hear from them directly about their experiences and get tips on standing out during the application process.

Intern Insights

Let's start by telling us a bit about yourself.

Howdy! My name is Connor Kildare. I was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, and currently attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a Senior in Software Engineering with a minor in Mathematics and a focus on AI & Machine Learning. My focus while working during school has been to diversify my experiences, allowing me to explore a variety of career paths and technologies. I marked my entrance to software development in VR but have since moved to working with machine learning, user experience, and optimization. In my free time, I like to cook, bake, plan events, and hang out with my family.

Hello! My name is Yongjie Xue. I have always been interested in programming and AI technology. I graduated with a master's degree in computer science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2024. During my studies, I took an Internet Programming class, which intrigued me and inspired me to delve deeper into the world of software development. This experience led me to decide to pursue a career in this field. I enjoy photography, horticulture, and watching movies in my leisure time.

What stood out about Pinata or the interview process when you applied?

Connor: Pinata was very accepting about my lack of experience with IPFS, knowing I came prepared to learn. This openness made me feel comfortable knowing I was interviewing for an internship that cared about what I wanted to do and learn. My past few weeks here have only confirmed that feeling, allowing me to take charge of projects and find ways to pair my work with my interests.

What have you enjoyed working on the most so far?

Yongjie: Gosh, I’ve enjoyed so many things during this internship. Firstly, I enjoyed working on the frontend development projects. As a visual person, I love seeing the website improve little by little. It gives me a sense of achievement to see everything I built, and at the same time, I’m constantly learning something new. Furthermore, whenever I encountered technical questions, every team member was always willing to help and give advice. The combination of supportive colleagues and a positive work environment have made this experience truly enjoyable for me.

How have you made connections with the team while being hybrid?

Connor: I have made an effort to stay communicative about the issues I work on, which allows me to confirm requirements and build a connection with my coworkers. These technical discussions often lead to more personal conversations and non-technical meetings called “virtual coffees,” where we drink coffee and talk about what comes to mind! This approach has allowed me to feel less disconnected from my coworkers despite the nature of remote work.

What role have your manager and mentor played during your internship?

Yongjie: My manager and mentor have played crucial roles during my internship. My mentor, Paulo, provided extensive hands-on training, including pair programming, to demonstrate how he approaches and solves technical issues. He meticulously reviewed my pull requests, offering valuable feedback on code cleanliness and debugging techniques, significantly enhancing my technical skills. Meanwhile, my manager, Justin, helped me understand the company's goals and identified key contacts within the organization for any questions I had. Paulo and Justin's regular feedback and evaluations every few weeks were instrumental in helping me recognize my strengths and areas for improvement. Their combined support was invaluable to my professional growth during the internship.

Advice for Applying to Our Intern Program

Applying to and interviewing for internships can be daunting. We strive to make the process as straightforward as possible, understanding that students juggle many responsibilities, including academics, work, extracurriculars, and caretaking. However, a simple application doesn’t always provide as many opportunities to stand out, especially when we receive hundreds to thousands of applications.

Here are a few ways students have successfully distinguished themselves beyond their application:

Involvement in relevant organizations and communities: Many campuses have blockchain or startup/entrepreneurship organizations. Even if your school doesn’t have a similar club, you can join numerous web3 and blockchain communities to learn and network. Warpcast and College DAO are great places to start.
Building projects using our developer tools: We love to see or hear from students who have built projects using Pinata. Get started with a free account, and tell us what you create!
Sending quality follow-up messages: One of the most effective ways to stand out during the application process is by sending thoughtful follow-up messages. We recommend avoiding generic messages; instead, highlight a few things you’re excited about and reiterate your relevant experience, skills, and achievements. You don’t have to set up a call for every role you’re interested in, but this will help you stand out in the sea of applications.

What We Look For

Entrepreneurial experience or spirit: Whether you ran your own company, built an app, or created a product for a school project, we want to see that you’re passionate about entrepreneurship—a key component of startups. Even if you don’t have direct entrepreneurial experience, we value seeing how you approach risk-taking and creativity.
Initiative and Proactiveness: We highly value students who take the initiative in identifying areas for improvement and finding solutions. Our interns demonstrate a proactive attitude by suggesting new projects, finding ways to improve existing processes, and enhancing team efficiency.
Adaptability: Adapting to new challenges and pivoting when necessary helps you acclimate to the startup environment. We look for interns who can easily handle change and are open to learning new skills. Flexibility and a positive attitude towards change contribute to both personal and team success.

If this sounds like you, our internships will be posted late this fall, and we would love to see your application!