From Intern to Full-Time: Transitioning to a Full-Time Engineer

Hi, my name is Kenneth Shin. I recently graduated with a computer science degree from the University of California, San Diego. My journey at Wind River started as an intern in June 2022 and continued until my full-time conversion in July 2023.

Tech Enthusiast at Heart

I grew up surrounded by technology, but my fascination blossomed when I received my first laptop in tenth grade. After a few computer science courses towards the end of my high school career, it became evident that I wanted to pursue computer science in college. My passion for technology stems from how technology can advance society positively. Innovation and technological advancements are the spice of life, and the excitement of keeping up with and participating in ongoing technological developments is reason enough to stay engaged.

Transitioning to a Full-Time Engineer 

A significant factor in my decision to accept a full-time position at Wind River was the people I met and worked with inside the company during my internship. While my experience in the professional field is limited, I found something special about the collection of individuals at Wind River. From mentors to peers, I was consistently blown away by the quality of character and wisdom of the employees I met. It is easy to work hard when you are surrounded by other hard-working, talented individuals, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside them permanently.

I am excited to rejoin my team in a new capacity and utilize what I learned during my internship to make stronger project contributions. I am also looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues again as a full-time employee. One thing I have learned in my time at Wind River thus far is that there is not a moment in which one stops learning -- I am excited to continue this trend in my new position while further polishing my skillset. 

Advice for Interns Seeking a Permanent Position

My advice to other interns interested in becoming full-time employees is to try and learn as much as you can in your time here, as an internship experience is not enough to harvest all the knowledge that has become available to you. Additionally, through your internship experience, there will be difficult moments, but remember to lean on your leader, mentors, and peers to support you when challenges arise. Doing so can help you get unstuck while allowing you to form valuable connections in the company.