Name: Tam Nguyen
Major and College: Graduate Student in Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University
Internship Title: Data Analyst Intern
Internship Site: Code in the Schools
1) Please tell us about your career goals.
My career goals revolve around continuous learning and a user-centric mindset within the data engineering field. I’m driven to constantly grow my knowledge and skills, always adapting to new challenges in building and maintaining data systems. I aim to develop solutions that scale efficiently to handle ever-increasing volumes of data, ensuring they are not only robust but also genuinely helpful and impactful for users. Ultimately, I’m looking for roles where I can continually learn while making a tangible difference by creating highly scalable and reliable data solutions.
2) Tell us about your internship (i.e., day-to-day responsibilities, special projects/clients, and work culture).
During my internship, I focused on data hygiene, primarily cleaning and merging student information. I worked closely with Dianne Conley, one of the co-directors of the system admin and fundraising team. My tools included Salesforce for data visualization and storage, QuickBooks for financial data, and Slack for team communication. My core responsibilities included removing data inconsistencies, especially formatting issues and duplicates. I also managed theresearch and deadlines for various reports, ensuring timely and accurate deliverables. The culture was collaborative and supportive, fostering a strong emphasis on learning.
3) Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I first learned about internship opportunities at Code in the Schools through the CodeWorks Program, where I was a Python trainee. I proactively reached out to Andrew, one of the co-directors, on LinkedIn to inquire about future openings. This led to a group interview with the team, after which I was offered the internship!
4) Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?
LinkedIn or Other Social Media
5) What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
What I’ve enjoyed most about my position and organization is definitely the community of co-workers. It’s inspiring to be part of a team with such diverse backgrounds, all united by the singular purpose of improving technological opportunities for Baltimore students. That shared mission creates a really supportive and collaborative environment.
6) How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I believe I made a significant impact by directly contributing to the organization’s funding efforts. By diligently ingesting, cleaning, and transforming student data, I ensured its accuracy and reliability. This meticulous work was crucial because it allowed us to gather meaningful insights for reports and deliverables to donors. Ultimately, this enabled the organization to successfully raise money to fund its programs, directly impacting the technological opportunities available to Baltimore students.
7) What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience (i.e., Internship search, Resume, or Interview tips)?
For any student seeking an internship, my top advice is to network actively and proactively reach out to individuals and organizations that interest you, as I did through LinkedIn. When preparing your resume, always quantify your achievements and tailor it to each specific role. For interviews, thoroughly research the organization and be ready to discuss how your skills directly apply to the position, always asking thoughtful questions to show your engagement.