My Journey to Securing a Summer Internship at JPMorgan Chase SEP Program ✨
Sometimes, life surprises you in the most unexpected ways, and my journey to becoming a Summer Intern at JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) for their SEP program is one such story. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions, determination, and perseverance, and I’m thrilled to share my experience with you! 🎉
The Beginning
It all started with an email from our college’s Career and Development Cell (CDC) about the internship opportunity at JPMC. The application process required us to submit our resumes, and like everyone else, I took the leap of faith and applied. Little did I know, this would mark the beginning of an incredible journey! I meticulously prepared my resume, ensuring that my projects, technical skills, and achievements were clearly highlighted. Given the competitive nature of such applications, I spent hours refining it to make it ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly. Once submitted, all I could do was wait and hope to clear the resume shortlisting phase.
Round 1: The Online Assessment (OA)
📅 On April 8, I received an email from HackerRank inviting me to participate in the first round: an online assessment. The test consisted of two coding problems, and we were given 45 minutes to solve them. Here's a breakdown:
Question 1: A dynamic programming (DP) problem that required optimal substructure and overlapping subproblems. This was a medium-level LeetCode-style question. I analyzed the constraints and edge cases thoroughly before coding.
Question 2: A greedy algorithm problem that involved selecting optimal solutions for maximum benefit. Again, it was a medium-level problem, but the logic was tricky and required careful implementation.
I managed to solve both problems in approximately 40 minutes, leaving me 5 minutes to review my solutions. Double-checking for edge cases and runtime efficiency was key. A sense of accomplishment washed over me as I submitted the test, though nerves about the results lingered.
Round 2: Behavioral Interview
📅 On April 19, I was thrilled to receive an email inviting me to the second round—a behavioral interview conducted via the HireVue platform. This round focused on assessing my soft skills, problem-solving mindset, and cultural fit. The questions were unique for each candidate and included scenarios like:
“Give a recent example where you learned and gained experience. State the situation and outcome.”
“What are your specific goals related to your career?”
“Describe a situation where you felt you had not communicated well and had to correct the situation.”
“Tell me about a time when you had to explain something you knew well to someone who had difficulty understanding the subject.”
“An experience when you were dealing with a huge crowd, and you made a mistake in the speech, so how did you cover it?”
I took my time to structure my answers using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique. Being authentic and reflective helped me navigate this round successfully.
Round 3: Code for Good Hackathon
📅 On May 30, I received the much-awaited email—an invitation to participate in the Code for Good Hackathon held at JPMC’s Mumbai office on June 15-16. This was a major milestone in my journey, and I was both nervous and excited.
The hackathon required solving a real-world problem statement. Our team worked on the following challenge:
"Education is a fundamental right, yet millions of students in rural areas worldwide lack access to quality educational resources. This project, developed for VOPA (Voluntary Organization for Public Awareness), a nonprofit dedicated to improving education in villages, aims to bridge this gap using cutting-edge technology."
We brainstormed ideas, leveraged ML and modern web frameworks, and developed a platform to:
Assess students’ reading abilities.
Generate personalized tests using AI.
Provide actionable insights to teachers.
Although we didn’t win the hackathon, the experience was invaluable. Collaborating with talented peers, receiving mentorship from JPMC professionals, and immersing myself in the corporate environment felt like a victory in itself.
The Waiting Game
Then came the season of suspense. For 2.5 months, I anxiously awaited the final results. On August 27th, the first list of selected students was released, and my name was not there. I was devastated. I cried, doubted myself, and felt utterly lost. 😢
But as they say, “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” On the warm afternoon of August 30th, I received an email from the CDC: I HAD BEEN SELECTED! ✨✨
Out of 450 Computer Science students, only 2 students from my college were chosen—and I was one of them. I couldn’t hold back my tears of joy. This moment was the culmination of months of hard work and perseverance. 😭🎉
Reflections and Gratitude 🌟
This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of my parents, who stood by me during my lowest moments, and my faculty mentors, who constantly guided me. I’m deeply grateful to JPMC for this incredible opportunity and to everyone who believed in me. 🙏🏼
To all the dreamers and hustlers out there: Never give up. The road may be tough, but the destination is worth it. Keep learning, keep growing, and trust the process. Your time will come! ✨❤️
What’s Next?
As I gear up for this exciting chapter at JPMC, I’m eager to work with some of the most brilliant minds at one of the biggest companies in the world. Here’s to new beginnings, challenges, and opportunities! 🚀
Thank you for reading my story! If you’re preparing for placements or internships, feel free to reach out—I’d love to share tips or answer any questions. Let’s grow together! 🔗