Intern of the Week: Fayokemi Ojo for Computer Science!

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 14:05:47 -0400
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Name: Fayokemi Ojo

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Texas Instruments

Position Title: Automation Engineer

Major(s)/Minor(s):Computer Science

Work Term: Summer 2018

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

My official position title was Automation Engineer. However, I worked on web applications during my internship. I mainly programmed in Java, SQL, and Javascript using Spring Tool Suite (STS) to create web applications. I had two projects during my internship. The first project was independent and involved keeping track of parts. My responsibility was to add functionality to the existing application. The second project was in collaboration with two other interns and we created web pages from scratch to help managers get data faster. These web applications were used to increase efficiency and reduce errors.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

With the help of UMBC’s Center of Women in Technology (CWIT), I was able to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Technology in September 2017. Prior to the start of the conference, I made sure my resume was reviewed by the Career Center and then I uploaded my resume to the Grace Hopper website. It was at that conference I met with recruiters for Texas Instruments and did two, on-site interviews with IT managers. About two days after the interview, I received an offer! I think I was hired because I really knew how to showcase my strengths and talk about how my contributions in groups or in the workplace are impactful. I also had prior knowledge about the company and talked about how many of the things I do in my free time align with their mission.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?

My favorite part about coming to work everyday was my co-workers, especially the other interns and new employees. They are smart, driven and fun to work with and we became a squad very early on. We watched a movie every Tuesday, and went to the gym or had lunch during lunch breaks!

I also enjoyed that the IT group at Texas Instruments had events interns to meet upper management, including the Chief Information Officer (CIO). I was able to connect with interns outside of my team and have meaningful conversations with employees that have been there for years.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I worked in Information Technology (IT). At Texas Instruments, IT is a business support entity. Everything done within IT is to support the business at large. So the projects I was assigned had very relevant and important benefits. Specifically, they saved the company time and money. I received a return offer, so they must have liked something about me and my work!

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Please take advantage of the Career Center! Attend Career Fairs, at UMBC and other places. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there and start applying NOW! Feel free to send me an email (fkme@umbc.edu) if you have questions!

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!