Ethan, Computer Science and Mathematics, ’28
Author: acnels
Ethan
Major
Computer Science and Mathematics
Summer 2025 Internship
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory
How did you find out about the internship? What did the process look like from applying, interviewing, etc.?
“I had known about MIT Lincoln Laboratory for a few years and applied to the internship from their website’s careers page. There were three rounds of interviews: a pre-screening with a junior engineer, an hour-long technical interview with two senior engineers, and a final round with the group leader.”
What advice do you have for fellow students regarding internship/job searches?
“Prior to writing your application or your interview take time to understand the mission and the culture of the company you are trying to get a job for. This makes your application much stronger and your interview feel more personal and natural. Having research and questions about the company prepared can highlight your professionalism and your enthusiasm for the position.”
What advice do you have for students seeking work experience in their field of study?
“Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask your friends and mentors for resume reviews and mock interviews. There are so many opportunities out there that you may feel under-qualified for, but take a risk and apply anyways. You’ll never know what may be unless you try! Also, don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups and professional communication.”
Did you attend any of the ISU career fairs? If yes, which career fairs did you attend? How did you prepare to speak with employers?
“I attended both the Engineering Career Fair and Business, Industry, and Technology Career Fair. I practiced my elevator pitch and answers to standard behavioral questions. I like to treat this as a normal conversation to make it as fun as possible!”
How has the internship helped you prepare for your next career steps?
“In my CO-OP at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, I built a multi-agent AI platform, a Graph Retrieval Augmented Generation (GRAG) pipeline, and submitted a research paper to an international conference. These experiences have given me the ability to communicate data to both technical and non-technical audiences, which is vital for almost any career.”
What are your plans after graduation?
“I will be interning this upcoming summer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to gain more experience in research and engineering. However, after graduation, I plan to pivot into a product management role at big tech because I love to strategize and build things.”
What advice do you have for students seeking a job in their field of study?
“Be proactive. My one biggest piece of advice is to network with those already established in your field of study. Cold emailing in particular works wonders. Most, if not all, of my early experiences were through reaching out to professors, recruiters, or industry leaders on LinkedIn.”
Have you used any resources provided by LAS Career Services? How was this service helpful to you?
“The ‘Career Planning’ page on the LAS Career Services website is a great roadmap for staying on track. I used it to make sure I was building a comprehensive profile for employers to see me as a well-rounded candidate.”