Internship at LASTEC, DRDO – Paras from HMRITM

Sooner or later our hard work pays off. He proved everyone wrong and showed his capability to be selected through an interview and not via a reference. There is darkness on our way, but a single ray of sunlight shines our life. So keep looking for that light that will enlighten your way, like his dedication and sincere efforts did. 

My internship story speaks about my dilemmas and fights to grab an internship and the time I spend during my internship.

For me, the real hunt for internship began in February 2015. I started searching for internship across the web forwarding my Curriculum Vita (CV) to different companies. But, nothing concrete was coming out of it. Time passed and I waited for the reply from various places where I have sent my CV. Then, I decided that I have to be firm about my internship first I need to decide which sector I want to go to, government or private. I chose the govt. sector then I started visiting the govt. organizations but everywhere a question haunted me “do you know anyone who worked here and can recommend you?”.

I was losing my hope when my friend suggested me to go to DRDO once to try out there. When I reached there I was asked to put my documents (photocopies of mark sheets of class X, XII and B Tech. along with my CV) into the boxes labeled with lab acronyms (DTRL, ISSA, DESIDOC, SAG and LASTEC). Soon after, I received a mail from LASTEC for an interview. The interview was scheduled in the mid of April. The night, before this interview, I anxiously waited for the moment when I will be giving my interview. I was much more excited than nervous. I reached DRDO for the interview at 8 AM. My interview was scheduled at 9.30 AM. At 10 AM, my interview started at an auditorium in the LASTEC Lab. I was first called for the documents verification followed by an interview, the interviewer asked me a few questions from Software Engineering and “why I think I will be selected” to which my answer was “Sir, I am meritorious student and also I have written research papers and want technical competitions, which speaks for my hard work, dedication and experience”. I think this may certain effect, which landed me as an intern into LASTEC Lab at DRDO, Civil Lines.

My internship started in the mid of June 2015. The very first day, I was issued an ID which recognized me as a trainee into DRDO. I was also allotted a mentor for my internship period. The mentor divided the intern into groups. I was grouped with my college friend ‘Aman’. I met many other students of my college there, they asked me “how are you here, you said you don’t know anyone in DRDO”. I proudly replied “I was selected through an interview”. It gave me a feeling of pride. I am really honored by DRDO, who selects students on the basis of their achievements, not only those who knows somebody into their organizations (who have their godfathers in their organizations).

I and my partner were asked to develop a simple Java Program then when we submitted that we were asked to add a functionality to it. Whenever we submit a task, we were given another specification that is required to be fulfilled by our programme, a simple Java program with these fulfillment of specifications, sparkled a complete software titled as ‘continuous monitoring system’. In college lectures, I was taught about ‘software as the integration of modules’. In LASTEC, I was realized how a software can be developed module by module. I entered as a student into DRDO and left as a professional. I left it with a vote of thanks to my mentor and even to the security guard that checked me, everyday with a smile.

I hope that this story will be a motivating one for those who don’t have their godfathers into the prestigious organizations, but, wish to be an intern in such organizations.

If Paras’s experience motivates you, you can check the latest internships in Delhi and Computer Science internships.

Editor’s note- Have you got an internship story to share? A chance to win cool Internshala T and other cash prizes by participating in Your Internship Story Contest.