Second-Year MS Students Share Career Insights at EE Speed Networking Event

The Department of Electrical Engineering hosted a speed networking event on Friday, Sept. 12, at the EE Student Lounge, bringing together more than 50 first-year master’s students eager to learn from their peers.

Ten second-year MS students spoke candidly about their experiences landing internships and full-time roles at leading companies across industries, including Numenta, Astera Labs, Marvell Semiconductor, C3.AI, Google, Intel Corporation, Citadel Securities, Ambarella, Orsted, and the Electric Power Research Institute.

Second year speakers included Aditya Somasundaram, Akanksha Sahoo, Bhargav Sriram, Likhith Ayinala, Rosie Wang, Vignesh Balasundaram Sathiya Devi, Yangfan Wang, Yun-Rong Du, Zishock Kim, and Ananya Maan Singh.

During the session, they discussed navigating the recruitment process, preparing for technical interviews, and adapting to workplace culture. Students also highlighted lessons learned from their professional experiences, such as the importance of networking, tailoring résumés to specific roles, and building both technical depth and interdisciplinary communication skills.

The event gave first-year students an opportunity to ask questions in small-group rotations, creating an open, supportive environment. Many attendees said they walked away with practical advice on internship strategies and a better understanding of how to position themselves for careers in areas spanning neuroscience AI, semiconductor manufacturing, cloud computing, finance, renewable energy, and beyond.

The speed networking session was the first major career development event of the fall semester, reflecting EE’s ongoing commitment to fostering community and career readiness among graduate students.