Skye Kirwan, a third-year student in Computing Science and president of the UoD Women in Stem Society, has given us some insight into her experience of obtaining an internship in the field of STEM.
When did your passion for STEM begin?
I think the first time I realised it was something I wanted to pursue was when I made a Tumblr account at age 14. I couldn’t find a theme that I liked for my page and ended up writing some code to create one. I remember enjoying the research and problem solving aspect of it and how I got lost in the process. I did some more exploration after finishing and discovered that this was actually a major part of computing!
What type of internship did you receive an offer for?
I received an offer for the Software Engineer Immersion Program at J.P Morgan Chase & Co in Glasgow. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I will be completing it virtually from home!
You applied through a program aimed specifically at bringing more women into STEM, could you tell us more about that?
This program is exclusively for females to combat the gender-imbalance within STEM. Programs like this raise equity for women in STEM by providing access to the opportunities that we have been previously excluded from. Last year I noticed that the company sponsored and attended many women in STEM events, and by speaking to employees I was ensured that they valued inclusivity.
Even with all of these positive influences it still took me a lot of self-persuasion and courage to apply, so I am really glad that programs like this exist.
How competitive would you consider STEM related internships to be and are there many opportunities for students in Scotland?
I would say STEM internships vary in competitiveness. Depending on the company you could gain an intern role through one interview, or you could be required to do online tests, interviews, and an assessment center.
There are so many opportunities in Scotland with a vast range of companies, especially within technology. I would try not to dwell on competitiveness when looking for one. If you’re interested, willing to learn, and can picture yourself in the role then go for it!
What sort of challenges do you think a woman might face entering this male dominated field, and what could be done to alleviate this imbalance?
We tend to over-analyse our abilities because we don’t fit the male stereotype. These expectations are ingrained into society and can create barriers based on an unconscious (sadly sometimes conscious) male bias.
Inclusive opportunities, supportive environments and active celebrations of diversity will prevent girls shying away from STEM and hopefully encourage more to consider pursuing it in the first place. There are many amazing companies working on this problem, but we still have a long way to go.
What advice would you give to students on successfully obtaining a STEM related internship, or any internship for that matter?
I believe the most important thing is to be organised, and you can start by looking out for opportunities as early as autumn! If you’re unsure about doing a whole internship, there are smaller programs such as insight weeks that can often be a direct route to an internship the following year. It’s best to pick a few roles that really resonate with you and put in effort researching the company for your application.
For technical interviews, I’d advise practicing on websites like Hackerrank, but don’t stress about making mistakes. I felt like I had failed both coding challenges given to me, but I could explain my thought process which is what they really care about.
Lastly, you can’t successfully sell yourself if you don’t really know what you’re selling. To prepare, spend some time thinking about your strengths and weaknesses so that when the time comes you will be able to express how great you are!
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