Summertime at Oracle is always ripe with potential, and this year’s internship class certainly made the most of it. Over the course of three exhilarating months, they practiced hands-on learning, forged lasting relationships, and fearlessly took on real-world challenges. But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what some of our interns have to say about their summer experience.
A supportive transition
John Liu had an unconventional background for an intern. He’d established a career in another industry before deciding to pursue his passion for technology, and he hoped that a software engineering internship at Oracle would help him make the pivot.
“Quite a few folks thought it would be a challenge for me to land an offer as an intern because I don’t fit the typical mold.”
He wasn’t alone. Many interns found themselves in uncharted territory at the start of the summer—but it didn’t take long for them to get their bearings.
“I didn’t know what to expect, as this was my first internship,” recalls intern Simba Ndlovu. “However, when I got here, I was introduced to my manager, who in turn, introduced me to my mentor. Working with these two people has been one of the best experiences ever.”
Stella Kaval, who also interned in software engineering, shares a similar account of her first days at Oracle.
“Initially, I was a bit nervous about asking for help, especially with setting up my computer, but I quickly realized that my mentor and manager were there to support me, and after a few days, my excitement grew.”
Making an impact
As they hit their stride in their new roles, Oracle interns were given countless opportunities to drive innovation.
“One of the most exciting aspects of being an intern at Oracle is seeing the level of impact that my work has,” says Maya Posner. As a UX design intern, she was integral to determining how our new platform can best serve its users.
Sarah Nassery, who returned for her second software engineering internship at Oracle, is proud of the results she delivered across the two summers. She even automated a process that saved her team one month of manual work.
“It really feels as if the business impact I’m adding is similar to that of a full-time employee here at Oracle, and I’m grateful to have had that experience here as an intern.”
The significance of the interns’ work was not lost on company leaders. Intern Beyonce McCrary shares that vice presidents and department directors would often come to watch her demos.
“They wanted to see the work that I was doing because it had a massive impact on the way that Oracle would start collecting their services,” she tells us. “And so I already felt like I was doing something really important, which motivated me to work harder.”
Hands-on learning
At its core, Oracle’s internship program is a hands-on learning experience, and this year’s participants embraced it without hesitation.
“My overall experience has been very, very excellent,” Simba says. “I have a lot of new skills that I was not going to acquire in the classroom.”
Beyonce adds, “School, you have one teacher for 100 kids, but here, it’s one-on-one with an industry master. They’ll walk you through all the little things that you’re not going to know, all the underlying reasons why something’s not working and how to get better.”
Her problem solving and coding skills, in particular, advanced significantly throughout the program.
Meaningful connections
Though they were spread across the globe, interns enjoyed a strong sense of community both inside and outside the office.
“We work together every day in an intern bullpen, have lunch together, and attend intern-specific events—from going to a San Francisco Giants game to grabbing coffee and discussing work,” shares Stella. “It’s been fantastic, and I’ve gotten to know so many other people.”
The intern program team went above and beyond to make everyone feel appreciated, offering fun activities like soap-making and boba bingo and holding a custom keyboard making workshop on National Intern Day.
Interns also got the chance to forge connections with some of the industry’s top minds—many of whom served as their mentors and leaders.
“Having a mentor is one of the best experiences for an intern because we can talk outside a professional space, and I can get to know a lot more about the company, culture, and career paths at Oracle,” explains Simba.
Maya was especially compelled by the leadership series put together by the intern programming team. Once a week, executives and vice presidents from across the company would share their professional journey with the interns, including their background and education, career path, and current work.
“We have the opportunity to talk with and interface with some of the most influential people at Oracle.”
Some interns, like Sarah, gleaned wisdom and connections from Oracle’s employee resource groups (ERGs). She was particularly excited to be part of the Oracle Women’s Leadership book club.
“We talk about everything—work life balance, day-to-day scheduling. We read a book about productivity, and I found it really useful speaking to the other women about all the amazing things we do here at Oracle.”
A balanced foundation
Oracle’s internship program is designed to set people up for success with a strong career foundation. That’s why providing an immersive, well-rounded experience is our priority.
“It’s the reason I chose Oracle over others, and the journey here has been nothing less than spectacular,” says John.
Though it was an action-packed summer, Beyonce highlights the balance she found as an intern.
“I was learning, but at the same time, I was having so much fun,” she shares. “I didn’t feel like I was alone or like I had so much work to do that it was unmanageable. I had challenging work, but I had lots of help.”
Stella adds, “The support and expectations have felt just right, and I feel encouraged in everything I do.”
One thing is certain: while the summer may be over for this year’s interns, their career journeys have just begun.
“I feel even more prepared than ever to take on the industry. Thank you, Oracle.”
Are you ready to set yourself up for tech success with an exciting, hands-on internship? Explore our student and graduate opportunities and learn more about future openings.