Your Internship in the AI Industry: A Student’s Guide

Many of us have seen the memes of jobs asking for years of experience from candidates fresh out of school. Lack of experience is a difficult hurdle for new graduates; consider internships to avoid that stumbling block. With the rapid growth and competitiveness of the AI and machine-learning industry, students look for summer internships not only for work experience but also to hone their skills and gain clarity on their career goals. These internships are sought-after and invaluable when accessing career opportunities. Whether you are looking to start preparing for next summer or are interning this summer, use this guide to learn valuable tips to maximize your AI internship experience and walk out with more than just a line item on your resume.

Preparing for Success: Before the Internship Begins

A successful internship starts well before your first day. Thoroughly research the company’s AI focus areas, ongoing research projects, and key project leaders (potential supervisors). Investigate their professional backgrounds and/or publications to identify areas of alignment with your own professional interests. and your supervisor’s by delving into their background and/or publications. “Make sure your ‘why’ for joining that company for your internship is important to you,” says Haibo Sun, Megagon Labs Intern, Summer 2024. Working on something that is of interest to you will make the intensive internship experience a bit easier and more rewarding. 

Next, define clear goals for your internship. Are you keen on applying your research and educational expertise to real-world problems? Or is learning a new AI technique the most important takeaway? Ensure these goals complement your long-term career aspirations. Discuss your internship goals and any potential overlap with your interests with academic advisors, professors, or mentors. If you are a PhD student, first ensure that an internship work aligns with the academic plan you’ve established with your advisor. Discuss how you will maintain communication with him during the internship to stay on track. Additionally, review your internship plan with your supervisor early on to confirm that it meets your interests and goals. Open communication with your advisor is crucial.

Yoo Yeon Sung, Megagon Labs PhD Intern during Summer 2024, says “It’s important to communicate ahead of your internship and get the plans. It’s good to have a plan B or plan C since things don’t always go as planned.”

You can still refine and discuss your goals with your internship mentor if you have already started your internship.

Thriving During Your AI Internship

The key to an enriching internship is proactive learning. Take the initiative to understand the entire AI development process, from data collection and model training to deployment. Don’t hesitate to ask questions that delve deeper into the “why” behind decisions and technical choices. Show genuine interest by exploring opportunities beyond your assigned project; ask other team members about their work or attend internal industry talks when available. 

Building strong relationships is another key ingredient—network with mentors and colleagues within the company. Take advantage of lunch outings, happy hours, and company events, and use the time to have meaningful conversations with fellow interns and company employees. Look for opportunities to broaden your knowledge, exploring what is available within the industry. 

Internships expose you to diverse perspectives and help build relationships that can later help you navigate the professional world. Yoo Yeon Sung added that “collaborating with new people and working closely with people with the same research interests … has been important for my professional development.”

During the day-to-day, it is important to maintain regular communication with your internship supervisor. Provide project updates, seek feedback on your work, and actively document key learnings and insights gained throughout the internship. These notes will help you commit to memory and can be a great resource for future reference, and even for use during your final presentation or report. Yihao Hu, a Summer 2024 Megagon Labs intern, says he believes in the power of good and clear communication between an intern and their mentor. Why? Because “it’s very difficult to finish everything assigned in the internship, but most things should be done. Be prepared for a very fast-paced and intense internship.”

Turning Internship Experience into Long-Term Benefits

The knowledge gained during your internship can significantly benefit your career. Look for potential connections. If this is a master’s or PhD research internship, can you incorporate internship findings into your thesis? Or perhaps the internship experience has sparked new research questions or areas of exploration. If it is a bachelor’s level internship, how can the experience and knowledge gained help you choose a career path or influence your plans of pursuing a master’s or a PhD degree? 

Gaining firsthand experience with the day-to-day work of AI professionals allows you to evaluate where in the industry you want to take your career. For those pursuing a PhD who wish to go into the industry but don’t want to give up doing research, there are AI research labs like Megagon Labs where you can continue doing research and see it flourish into various projects. For those pursuing a master’s degree who like doing research, research labs offer engineering and research-engineering positions where you work on developing products and applied research. 

Lastly, use this internship as an opportunity to leverage the network you built through professional connections. These colleagues can be invaluable resources for future job opportunities and mentorship. Don’t hesitate to request recommendation letters from your internship supervisor to support your future academic or professional pursuits. As mentioned, the people you meet at your internship can also become career mentors. Be proactive with keeping in touch after the internship; stay connected with colleagues and mentors you met during your time there.

Conclusion

AI research internships offer students a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge and research to real-world problems, learn cutting-edge industry practices, and build valuable professional connections. By following these tips and proactively seeking learning opportunities, students can turn their internship into a springboard for a successful technical career or a future in the thriving field of AI.

Are you looking for an internship in AI? Go to our jobs page.

Written by: Megagon Labs

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