Mahum Zaidi

Majors: Professional Writing; English

Technical Writing Intern, National Instruments

1.) How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

I was really interested in getting technical writing internship experience before graduating, since it's such a niche profession, so I explored as many sources for job postings as possible. I got both my summer and fall 2023 internships from LinkedIn. 

2.) How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?

This is my first corporate internship experience, and it has helped immensely with understanding the responsibilities and work cycle of a technical writer. Being so hands-on and diving immediately into writing hardware documentation at my job has affirmed that this is the career I want. The skills and projects I've worked on have even helped me secure a technical writing internship at Tesla this fall! 

3.) How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills to your internship?

I would say that my English skills are at the core of my professional life. Being a good writer is key in my line of work, as the technical aspects such as hardware and software can be learned on the job. On an even broader scale, being good at composition and public speaking is what helps me craft successful resumes and thrive during interviews. 

4.) What is a piece of advice you would give someone looking for an internship?

Experience, resume/cover letter, and interviewing are of course the main components of getting an internship. As an English major, starting with on-campus experience at the Writing Lab was a game changer that I would highly recommend. It is an amazing first job with many transferable skills. Other roles are also important, such as being a part of organizations in residential, academic, and social life. Once you have a few positions under your belt, make sure you spend a lot of time improving your resume, cover letter, and interview skills.