kluft@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Ian Kluft) (08/02/88)
spolsky@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Joel Spolsky) asks about: > I am interested in hearing from undergraduates in Computer Science who > have spent the past summer in any kind of internship in Computer > Science. I would like to compile a list of such programs to make > available via the net. I am especially interested in hearing your > evaluations of the program. [ ... ] > Useful points to mention are: > -location Hewlett-Packard, Cupertino CA > -transportation arrangements Like everyone else, you make these arrangements > -approximate number of participants That's classified. Let's just say there's a lot of room here. It's a big site. > -housing HP employee housing is available but I was lucky that my folks live nearby. > -competitiveness I've never had much trouble finding a position here. The interviews are technical but not grueling, but it varies from department to department. However, I've heard of at least one person who had a lot of trouble getting in. It depends on communications ability, experience, and how many other candidates that particular manager is looking at. > -job descriptions Any manager can get a Summer employee requisition for almost any project that will take about a Summer to do, particularly if the permanent staff doesn't have time to get to it. Some are more interesting than others. (I have enjoyed both Summers with HP). My job description? Hmmm... I can't go into that much detail on the net but I'm working with diagnostic software for the HP Precision Architecture (a.k.a. Spectrum). Mostly upgrading a regression test package. > -work atmosphere The idea is for Summer employees to be just like the regular engineers or staff they work with. But there are some differences because it is (hello reality!) temporary. Summer hires who do an acceptable job (and most do) can be given an offer for the following Summer or for a permanent job at that time. They'll be kept on as an HP employee on leave-of-absence during school. The actual environment depends on the people you work with. I think I've been extremely lucky two years in a row. The rumors are correct - HP is a great place to work. > Etc. etc. You get the idea. I've heard that 8 out of 10 people in the S.E.E.D. (Student Employment and Experience Development) program come back to HP as permanent employees. Part of it has to be the fact that HP trusts its Summer hires with real projects, not just something to keep them busy or just grunt work. My tip for students who want "in" at HP is to bring a resume to the site that has a division you want to work in. Ask the guard or recep- tionist at the desk to send it to the personnel department for the site. Do this at every HP site that applies. February is the best time to be looking for Summer jobs at HP. But don't expect to hear from anyone until after they've filled their permanent positions. Most of all, make sure you have experience to back up what you put on your resume! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Ian Kluft RAS Lab UUCP: hplabs!hprasor!kluft HP Systems Technology Division ARPA: kluft@hpda.hp.com Cupertino, CA ------------------------------------------------------------------
pfm@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Pam Miller) (08/05/88)
>/ hpfcdc:comp.edu / spolsky@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Joel Spolsky) / 6:33 pm Jul 31, 1988 / >I am interested in hearing from undergraduates in Computer Science who >have spent the past summer in any kind of internship in Computer >Science. I would like to compile a list of such programs to make >available via the net. I am especially interested in hearing your >evaluations of the program. >Useful points to mention are: >-location IBM in Lexington, KY and Kingston, NY HP in Fort Collins, CO. >-transportation arrangements For all my interns/co-ops I arranged my own transportation. Both companies will pay for travel to and from the work location and school/home. >-approximate number of participants IBM in Lexington had about 100 participants when I was there, Kingston had around 50, and HP in Fort Collins has approximately 50. These are all numbers for the site only, I don't have any figures for the total program. >-housing IBM personnel departments dealt with differently. The Lexington site provided us with a list of apt's and their approximate rental cost. They also had a program set up with a furniture rental company for a slight price break if we needed to rent furniture. They also provided a list of other interns that were looking for roommates. The Kingston site provided a list of possible roommates. Like I said, this depends on the personnel dept at the location. HP at Fort Collins sets up a specific apt complex each summer for the SEEDs. You are not obligated to live there, but the rent is cheaper (HP sets up a deal like if we get all these people to move in - give them a price break) and there are a lot of other SEEDs close by. They also set you up with a roommate if you want one. >-work atmosphere IBM is a lot different than HP from the SEED/intern/co-op point of view. There is a lot I could write about this (pages and pages) but instead of making this any longer than it needs to be, I'll just leave it like that. If anyone would like to know about the differences or anything else, please e-mail me. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. >Joel Spolsky Pam Miller For some reason this editor has the "at" key bound to something else so I'll have to fake my e-mail address. Where there is a # sign, substitute in a "at" sign (the little a in a circle). pfm#hpfcla.HP.COM or millerp#silver.bacs.indiana.edu or iuvax!silver!millerp ...