How to make the most of your internship

It’s intern season! That means all around the world, students are stepping into their first week as interns. It’s an exciting time full of possibilities (and yes, a few butterflies too). To help you make the most of your internship, we asked three associates who’ve been in your position—a former intern, an emerging talent experience leader and a Cognizant executive—to share their advice. Let’s dive in.

Advice from former intern, Gnandeep Boppudi

Gnandeep studied data science and AI in university. During his final year, he landed an internship at Cognizant and made the most of it—so much so that he was offered a full-time role as a Programmer Analyst Trainee before his graduation in 2023. A year later, he earned a promotion and is now working as a software tester for one of our largest healthcare clients. 

So, what helped him stand out? His curiosity.  

He made it a point to ask questions and was eager to understand why things work the way they do in the corporate world. He also focused on building meaningful relationships, connecting with everyone from fellow interns to directors. These conversations helped him gain valuable insights and ensured his name was known.  

His advice to incoming interns is to have patience and believe in yourself. The first few weeks can feel overwhelming with a lot of new information, but as he puts it, “things will fall into place as long as you keep your focus on learning and absorbing it all.”

Advice from emerging talent experience leader, Tria Charnas

Having spent her entire career in the campus space, Tria’s passion lies in helping emerging talent make milestone career moves. She knows a thing or two about making the most of your internship. 

Her message to interns is simple but powerful: “If you weren’t meant to be here, you wouldn’t be.” 

Your company sees your potential and wants you to make the most of your internship. That includes asking questions and making mistakes. But that’s only half of the equation—take the time to reflect on how you can turn those mistakes into lessons. It’s often these moments of learning that lead to your biggest wins.

Advice from Cognizant executive, Dora Jonah

Dora got her start as an intern at a major Canadian bank. She still remembers her first day, sitting nervously at her desk on the 11th floor. But with time, her confidence grew—and so did her career. 35 years later, Dora is the Delivery Head for Cognizant Canada, with a career spanning HR, technology and consulting. She loves welcoming interns because, as she puts it, “I learn just as much from them as they do from me.”

Here are her top tips to help you shine early in your career: 

1. Be open-minded. Careers rarely follow a straight line. You might start out wanting to be a developer and discover a passion for something completely different. Staying open to new career paths helps you learn more about yourself and what truly excites you.

2. Be strategic. Hard work matters, but so does visibility. Ask to take on projects that get you noticed by your leaders and stretch your skills. 

3. Be patient. Don’t rush where you’re going before you get there. Focus on building your skills and confidence and the rest will naturally fall into place.

Excited about a future at Cognizant? Explore our Student and Emerging Talent programs and take the first step toward building your dream career.