The HashiCorp international intern experience

Summary sentence: Five HashiCorp interns share their experiences of moving to the United States to pursue an education and career.

Leaving home for educational or job opportunities is a rite of passage for many people. This is especially true for those who live in places where their options are limited. These changes are inevitably accompanied by life lessons and challenges to long-held views.?

We spoke with five interns to learn more about their shared experience of moving to the United States to pursue an education and career by landing an internship at HashiCorp. Here’s what they had to say:

What led you to pursue an education in the US? Can you describe the first few weeks after arriving?

Iuri Slywitch | Software Engineering Intern | University of Houston | Houston, Tex | Brazil

I came for job opportunities. When I left Brazil to study abroad in the United States, I was highly motivated and hoped to have a higher standard of living in the US.?

During the first few weeks here I felt happy learning, exploring, and discovering new cultures and ways of living. Fortunately, I already spoke English well enough before arriving, which helped me a lot in making friends. I was amazed by how everything worked without much bureaucracy, the outdoor safety, and the quality of the goods for sale.

Kishii Ogunbiyi | Solutions Engineering Intern | Bowie State University | Austin, Tex.? | Nigeria

At the time when I came to the US, the public universities in Nigeria had been greatly affected by the pandemic and lockdown. My university’s staff was going on strike, which prolonged the number of years students would spend getting their degrees. An opportunity for me to study in the US emerged, and my parents thought it best for me to explore a different culture and pursue my career in a more stable environment.?

In my first weeks of arriving in the US, everything seemed new, the colors looked brighter, and it was so cold! I had to transfer schools due to a few circumstances and the pandemic. As a result I had to prepare for placement exams and apply to colleges closer to my location.??

Ilgin Cevik | Product Design Intern | University of California | Berkeley, Calif. | Turkey

I came to the US from Turkey, largely due to my high school experience with the International Baccalaureate program. My goal was to pursue research in the biotech industry. However, once here, I quickly discovered a passion for the tech industry. By coincidence and luck, I ended up in the Bay Area, a hub of innovation and technology, which turned out to be a game-changer for me.

The first few weeks in the US were both challenging and exciting. Academically, I was prepared, but adjusting to daily conversations and cultural nuances was a new experience. Despite being fluent in English, I had to adapt to speaking it constantly and navigating everyday interactions. I received frequent questions about the pronunciation of my name and my accent, but these experiences helped me connect with others.?

What unique challenges did you face as an international student pursuing internships??

Iuri Slywitch

Legal and immigration issues, language barriers, stereotyping, financial pressures, and limited career options are just some of the things I’ve faced. The immigration process can be complex and take a long time to complete. Financial pressures and career concerns can be overcome by applying yourself and sacrificing some everyday pleasures for knowledge, work, and research.?

Ilgin Cevik

As an international student, one of my biggest challenges is navigating the complex visa and work authorization process. This often creates uncertainty and adds extra pressure to an already competitive job search, especially with many companies rejecting my application due to future sponsorship needs. Adjusting to new cultural and professional norms can also be challenging. For example, people here refer to everyone by their first names, but I always feel like I am somehow being disrespectful. It’s not just about learning new job skills but also about fitting into a new environment and making a good impression in a short amount of time.

What is something you wish everyone knew about international students?

Kishii Ogunbiyi

International students are very resourceful, smart, and the most interesting people one can meet. International students face major challenges finding an internship due to employment laws. A lot of international students, especially those in their earlier years in college, really want to gain professional experience and hope companies give them a chance to prove themselves in order to gain useful skills. International students have to ensure they are finding other paths to gain experiences, which include participating in unpaid internships, institutionally funded opportunities, and group projects. This shows that regardless of the circumstances we find a way to build ourselves up academically and professionally. It prepares us for the ups and downs of the real world and makes us more confident.?

Hamza Shili | Software Engineering Intern | Rice University | Houston, Tex. | Tunisia

I wish everyone knew that it takes a lot of courage, responsibility, and autonomy to leave one's home at such a young age, see their family for an average of just five weeks a year, and build a new life in a new country by themselves.

Rita Osi | Product Manager Intern | Jackson State University | Jackson, Miss. | Nigeria

I wish everyone knew that they are amazing and brave individuals who have taken a bold step to ensure they learn effectively.

How is HashiCorp helping you fulfill your internship and career goals?

Iuri Slywitch

HashiCorp is allowing me to showcase my abilities and skills in the corporate world. And HashiCorp's expertise in cloud infrastructure technologies is crucial for my career. Here, I'm exposed to the latest developments in the cloud industry, and the company helps me learn, develop, and create new tools that impact businesses, workflows, and the lives of our customers.

Kishii Ogunbiyi

Interning at HashiCorp has allowed me to learn about cloud infrastructure and develop effective collaboration and communication skills. I work alongside my teammates and participate in meetings just like full-time staff. I'm also provided an environment that supports? growth and learning. HashiCorp has given me insight into what a healthy working environment looks like so later in my career I'll be able to decide what type of company culture I would like to embrace.

Hamza Shili

HashiCorp provides hands-on experience and mentorship, allowing me to apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges. Shadowing engineers helps me learn best practices, and working on projects like HashiCorp Vault and Terraform add to my technical skill set. The supportive culture at HashiCorp encourages continuous learning, and aligns with my career aspirations in tech development.

How do you share your culture with others at school or in your internship??

Hamza Shili

I was the president of the MENA Student Association at Rice, and actively participated in an African cultural show called Africayé: An Evening in Africa, , representing my home country, Tunisia. These roles allowed me to share my heritage and promote cultural understanding within the university community.

Rita Osi

I am originally from Nigeria, and I organize and participate in events such as International Week at my school which showcases the diverse cultures of its international students. During International Week, I dress in traditional Nigerian attire and teach students common phrases in Igbo, which is the language spoken in Southeast Nigeria where I’m from. I also share videos highlighting our rich cultural heritage through artwork and prepare delicious and spicy foods that you’d find in every Nigerian home.

Ilgin Cevik

My way of sharing my culture is mostly through advocacy. I joke that the Turkish government should start paying me for all the travel advertisements I do for them! I frequently teach people Turkish and share stories about our rich history, beautiful landscapes, and traditions. By doing this, I not only hope to keep my heritage alive but also foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Turkish cultures.