Name: Raghurai Kulkarni
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Mobux
Position Title:UI/UX Designer
Major(s)/Minor(s): Human Centered Computing
Current Class Level:Master’s Student
Work Term: Summer 2019
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
Working for start-ups is very different and varies a great deal from start-up to start-up. I began by learning about the software that we develop and then created all the UX (user experience) documentation like journey maps, personas, etc. When you work for a start-up you have to wear a lot of hats; I am an intern but I led one full-fledged project. For this project, I developed a system development cycle according to company capacity and requirement. I did pretty much everything from requirements gathering, research, and overseeing the implementation. Sometimes I handle the implementation myself if I can while the other engineers are busy with core features.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
First, I tried to reconstruct my resume so it could pass all of the application tracking systems which many companies are using to filter out applicants. Then, I began to monitor UMBCworks and internships.com. I was a little bit delayed in applying for internships because I was coding my portfolio instead of making one through websites like Squarespace and Wix. However, I applied to my current internship in May and went through a couple of interview rounds to start work in July.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
UX is a very broad field and different companies have different definitions of what parts of the UX process fits into their users experience. Smaller companies have to do all the same work with less staff, so I was able to try various things and experiment with my designs.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Mobux is a mobile experience company and we try to invent new ways to interact with users. We research a lot about users, mobile devices, trends, and mobile usage habits. So, I guess we are striving to make the mobile experience more enjoyable and fun.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
My advice would be to apply early. Also, it’s not just about being smart and technical, but you have to possess strong conversation and networking skills, too. Going to Career Center events and workshops can definitely help with this.
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