“When Pinterest works well, it helps you find things that are meaningful to you. We want to build a system that helps you do that.”
Ben Silbermann
In the summer of 2018, Meghna Banerjee, a senior student from the University of California, Santa Cruz, who loved to code awesome robots and was passionate about teaching young students to code their robots in TechKnowHOW franchises, got the golden opportunity to be an Engage Scholar at Pinterest, a community which helps people “pin their interests”.
Majoring in Computer Science, she enjoys tackling complex software engineering challenges and her special interests include systems, backend development and infrastructure. This interest led her to successfully achieving the position as a software engineering intern in some of the best companies like Microsoft, Lyft, and Datadog. Let us see how Pinterest was able to hone, both her soft and technical skills in the Engage Scholar Program of Summer 2018.
INTERVIEW
1. Describe the application process in brief
There is an essay on why you’re interested in the Pinterest Engage Scholar program and then a technical interview (Leetcode easy) with a recruiter.
2. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Feel free to write about anything fun, deep, emotional or motivating!
I moved to the US during my junior year in high school. Everything felt so weird to me and I had no idea what GPA or SAT or AP Classes meant (so many acronyms!) Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d end up going to the university of my dreams and intern at all these cool tech companies!
3. Major accomplishments
When I got accepted for their summer 2018 program, I just had two un-finished mobile apps and a robotics instructor job on my resume. I’m glad I passed the resume screening stage but I have no idea how! After the program, I went onto win multiple hackathons, interned at Lyft and Microsoft, and got to be a KP Finalist. I’ll also be joining Datadog for Fall!
4. Why do you think you were selected?
Again, no idea how I passed the resume screening but they then sent me an essay asking, “Why Pinterest?”
I know I was selected for the final round because I gushed about how much I enjoyed using their product. It’s very important to be enthusiastic about Pinterest as a platform because all Pinployees take great pride in their product.
5. Any failures or rejections?
So, so, so many! I have been rejected 200 times, including several tech companies. It definitely gets better and is a numbers game. Before I got into Pinterest, I had applied to 150 places.
6. Can you tell us a bit about your experience?
Pinterest is an awesome company with a great culture. The Engage program is for attracting and training new, diverse talent, and the program is great for learning the soft and technical skills needed to land an internship.
7. Any advice you would like to give future applicants?
Show enthusiasm about Pinterest!
Next time, you “pin your interest” in Pinterest, remember Meghna Banerjee, and how she was able to be a part of one of the best online communities in the world. The next one in her position could be you! Let me specifically quote her words,
“Pinterest is an awesome company with a great culture!”
You don’t want to miss this opportunity!
Click here to find Meghna Banerjee on LinkedIn!
Scholarship Track 