Finding the Right Internship

Alex Zhu ’24 can’t think of many experiences more valuable to her career path than the internships she’s had in college. 

Working in project management at NetApp and ServiceNow allowed the Dance and Management and Information Systems double major to apply what she’s learned in the classroom while getting experience in relevant software and expanding her professional network. Some of her projects even reached the C-Suite officers.

“I got the chance to work with incredibly intelligent people,” Zhu says. “Working alongside people interested in tech really sparked conversations around modern trends and finding your career path. Our intern chats are still active today.”

It all started three years ago when the Career Center’s Handshake platform connected her with a recruiter who helped her get her first internship. As an eager freshman with no professional experience, it was a great way to get her foot in the door. 

“The next summer, I landed my first corporate internship at a Fortune 500 tech company,” she says.

Zhu is excited to share what she’s learned with the Class of 2028 at Santa Clara University’s Open House on Oct. 21. Zhu will co-host a panel titled “Illuminating Internships” where she and several fellow students will discuss their internship experiences in fields ranging from accounting and information systems to public health. 

Following the presentation, Zhu and the other students will then open the discussion to questions from the audience. 

The most important lesson for prospective students, Zhu says, is to know all the resources available for students at Santa Clara—from the Career Center to Handshake to VMock. The College of Arts and Sciences even has a director of internships to help students find the right internship fit. 

“I want students to leave this panel with the confidence to go out and get these opportunities,” Zhu says. 

For those interested in attending Open House on Oct. 21, register on the Open House website.