Pursuing her BS in Computer Science at the University of Kansas, Victoria Maldonado is a vibrant and intelligent student who, unlike others, has knowledge that spans diverse fields. She is a fascinating example of a person who recognizes the necessity of building up interest in sectors other than their line of study. Consistently raising the bar, Victoria has shown why perseverance can bring one’s hard work to fruition.
Invested in creating a social change, Victoria has also previously been the President of the Interact Club La Paz, a club sponsored by Rotary that works with groups of children, the elderly, animals, and such to provide for the needs of those in La Paz, Bolivia.
Read on below to find out how Victoria Maldonado, a Computer Science student, managed to get selected for an internship at the Bank of America!
INTERVIEW
How did you prepare for the program?
To make sure I was offered a position before the program started, I did three important things.
First, I made sure that my resume was perfect. I got feedback from the career services in my university twice, as well as from some peers.
Second, I went to a lot of career fairs and talked to multiple recruiters. I think that the experience of doing that enough times made me feel a lot more confident later.
Third, I studied a lot, not just because good grades would give me more chances of getting an offer, but also because I wanted to understand the material. You can save a lot of time when preparing for interviews by knowing the basics well.
How long did it take you to prepare?
The resume part took me probably about 10 hours. The other two things I practiced consistently, so I was thinking about them/working on them for the last 3 years.
Tell us about the application and recruiting process.
I was able to apply to the Bank of America internship program through a career fair at the Grace Hopper Celebration. I had to show my resume to a recruiter, and after talking to them for a few minutes, I was able to schedule an interview for someday later that week. The interview was half technical and the other half was more of a conversation with the recruiter. After 2 weeks, I received a call offering me a chance to join the global technology internship program.
What do you think were the reasons for your selection?
Honestly, I still think a lot of it was luck. You could be qualified, prepared, and still not get an offer. But if I had to pick a couple of things that I think made me stand out, I would say that having a minor in business when applying to a financial institution (even if my role was in technology) showed that I understood and cared about how their company works. Also, I had a great conversation with the recruiter. I think that it was the best interview I have ever had because it didn’t feel like one. I was confident and calm because I knew the material for the technical part and able to create a connection with the recruiter.
Are there any failures or rejections in your past?
Lots! I am an international student so about 80% of my conversations at career fairs ended as soon as I mentioned or they realized that I wasn’t a US citizen. However, I believe that rejections are not bad, they helped me learn how to research companies that sponsor international students and focus more on companies that would hire me because of my potential.
What was your experience in the program like?
I feel that Bank of America is an awesome company that tries hard to make everyone feel the best and give their best. The internship program was an overview of what working there would look like. We learned a lot about the bank’s culture, as well as a lot about finance and business. We also learned a lot about the technologies and roles that the bank offers for full-time employees. It was an intensive 8-week learning program to know what to expect if you got to work at a big financial institution as a technologist.
My internship was online, so I know that I probably didn’t get to live the full experience, but I was able to notice that people tried hard to make me feel like I was. People were always available to answer my questions and I was always encouraged to innovate and question things. Overall, it was a nice experience despite being online.
Do provide useful tips that enabled you to take this leap and complete it!
I think that the most important thing to get an internship(and anything in life) is consistency. You have to get up every day and do the things that will take you one step closer to your goal. The thing that I noticed is that I cannot be motivated every time to do well in my classes or to go to a meeting, but I think that consistency and a routine are what keeps me going. Creating a routine that includes the things that you need to grow as well as some time to relax is one of the hardest things to do. But when you achieve that routine, there is nothing that can stop you from reaching your goals. Why? Because you will be getting closer to your goals even if you’re tired, or demotivated, or lazy to do it that day. So that’s something that worked for me. Think about the things that you want and create a routine to achieve them.
What advice would you offer future applicants?
One thing that I would have done differently whilst in the program would have been to get more connections, talk more to people, and get to know them. I would have also liked to talk more overall and express my ideas and concerns. So don’t be afraid to be noticed. I felt that the people in this company liked it when someone was honest and spoke their mind. That’s one thing that I understood from the program: you cannot be a leader or change maker if you are not willing to get out of your comfort zone.
Get out of your comfort zone! Push yourself! Be consistent! Keep a routine!
One hears these tidbits of advice day in and out, but when it comes from someone who has actually applied them and succeeded enormously, they change from “just meaningless advice” to pure cold hard facts that cannot be contested. Victoria Maldonado has paved a way that is crystal clear, all that remains is to take that first step and walk.
Scholarship Track is proud to display Victoria Maldonado’s journey and is completely sure that it will inspire others to follow in her path! From the very principles that she follows in life, we are confident that she will go above and beyond in anything that she aims to achieve!