Introduction
I am currently working as a Software Engineer at Dell. I come from the beautiful valley of Jammu, J&K, India. During High School, I opted for Non-Medical (including computers). Eventually, I decided to pursue a bachelor’s in computer science engineering from Manipal University, Jaipur. I am a passionate dancer and love creating abstract paintings, which I keep showcasing on my Instagram page. I recently launched my own blog where I share my insights on whatever I experience in life, professional or personal. I love travelling and exploring new cultures.
How did you get this role at Dell?
I learned about this opportunity through the placement cell at my college. Every year, Dell visits our campus and hires third-year students for the internship role. Once the internship is complete, some students are offered the PPO (Pre Placement Offer) for Software Engineer, Analyst, or Designer role at Dell. But to get that internship, one needs to clear four selection rounds.
First Round is the MCQ round: It tests your basic computer science knowledge. There will be questions (45) about Data Structures, Operating Systems, Database Management, and more, which are to be answered in 60 minutes.
Second Round: The selected students are to form a team of 4 or 5 people at max and be given two weeks to work on a problem statement. This round tests your creativity, problem-solving skills, innovation & teamwork.
Third round is the presentation round: The leaders would be interested in the solution you have worked on and how you present it. The presentation should be creative, concise, and professional. Depending on the solution and presentation skills, the panel will select team members from each team who will proceed to the HR round.
Fourth Round is the HR Interview: It is a one-on-one session with HR, who is keen to know more about you. Hence, just be yourself and answer honestly but professionally. Based on the interview, HR shortlists the candidates for the internship. But the job offer depends on the kind of experience you have had with your team at Dell as an intern.
What does your day in the life of a Software Engineer at Dell look like?
I am a Software Engineer/ ServiceNow Developer. I work on the ServiceNow Platform, an application platform-as-a-service, a cloud-based computing model that provides the infrastructure needed to develop, run, and manage applications. My daily work starts with scrum sessions with the team, where we discuss stories, issues, demand requirements, etc. Then I start with my development work. On average, I work on six stories per sprint. For those who are clueless about what stories mean - Stories are one of the core components of agile development. This provides context to the developer on what is needed, why it is required, and what value it will create. I collaborate with senior developers, product owners, and users for the same.
I also mentor interns by training them about the platform, scripting, and sharing knowledge on different modules. I am presented with various opportunities to take part in resource groups, ITDP fun sessions, and more. I also keep my designing and writing skills active as a part of the content hub at Dell.
How was the transition for you from being an intern to getting a full-time job?
My transition was pretty smooth. I did two internships with Dell, first as a summer intern and then as a winter intern. I got to interact with many developers, learned a lot from them, and made a beautiful bond with my team. Eventually, I joined the same team as a Full-Time Employee (FTE), and it was very easy to blend in and adjust as everybody knew me. Whenever I get stuck in any problem, I know the right person to approach because of the bond I formed over those two internships.
As an FTE (full-time employee), I now emphasize creating value for the company and following the additional set of responsibilities and duties that are expected from an FTE. I get opportunities to contribute to major projects. The level of development has increased. I get to present my solutions in major discussions, and now I am grateful to be mentoring and guiding several other interns under me.
Tell us about your overall experience at Dell
The overall experience as an intern was fulfilling. If I were to compare my two internships, I would say that there was a good progression. The summer one was just a trailer as it gave me an overview of working at a well-established company with executives, what kind of work I could expect, and acquainted me with new technology.
On the contrary, I got to be part of the bigger picture during those four months as a winter intern. I participated in team meetings, interacted with colleagues, gained experience by actively taking up more stories, tried my hands at new stuff, proactively took up challenges, understood the essence of teamwork, and most importantly, saw my journey starting as a Software Engineer for the first time.
Now that the journey has officially started, I see myself growing every day with the skills that I acquire from my technical work and interactions with peers and leaders. Something that I absolutely love about Dell is its flexible work culture. There is a nice balance between my professional and personal life. Another acknowledgeable fact about Dell is the exceptional peer support you receive. The overall corporate experience has shaped my personality, boosted my confidence, and encouraged me to keep learning.
What are your thoughts on the importance of doing multiple internships?
I have done a total of 3 internships; the first with Mettler Toledo in China and the remaining two with Dell. I will briefly explain what my thought process was while doing these internships. So, I did my first internship in an international market in China. It was a two-month internship. Initially, it wasn’t easy for me as I was working in a different country and there was this language barrier. Therefore, I took some time to get acclimatized to the new surroundings and told myself that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I need to make the most of it. At last, I managed my way out and successfully completed my development work. I was there for eight weeks and visited seven cities in those eight weeks. I met new people from different countries. Therefore, things would seem tough at first, and to be honest, it’s good that things are tough because challenges like these really mould you to their core and eventually, you come out as a winner.
For the Dell internship, the main challenge was the new concept of Virtual Internship. Quite frankly, I was a bit anxious about whether I would be able to complete the project or not, and who would be my manager. How will I get to learn and interact in the virtual world? But all this nervousness dissipated once I got introduced to my manager and the team. All were so warm and welcoming. I kept working hard and, in the end, everything worked out for the best.
College internships are the building blocks of your professional career. Doing an internship enhances your skills, shapes your personality, provides you with the proper hands-on experience of working in a real world on real problems, and makes you understand the essence of teamwork.
Kindly share some advice for others.
Working on your skills is very important. I always advise my juniors to first focus on learning skills, gaining proper knowledge in a specific area, and then, accordingly, look for internships to put that knowledge to use. How can you work on developing your skills - you can look for projects in the field you are interested in. You can work with your seniors or professors from college and enhance your technical skills. Also, I always tell them to start early by setting a proper timeline and following it. You will feel more confident during interviews, your resume will be stronger. Apart from this, they also need to focus on extracurricular, work on communication skills by taking up some volunteering or leadership roles. Be proactive and innovative in whatever you do. This will showcase that you have the ability to work with others and grow within the company.
I know it’s a bit cliché, but this is the truth. Hard work is the key to success! Keep Learning, Never Give Up! Face your challenges with courage. Challenges make you tough and bring out the best in you. Maintain a proper balance between academics and extracurriculars. Explore everything and learn from the new experiences. Meet new people and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Enjoy your college life to the fullest.