I'm Rishabh Patel, a third year Electrical Engineering and Computer Science student at UNSW, now working as a Network and Infrastructure Engineering intern in Telstra's Career Start Edge Program. I'm excited to get hands-on experience applying my theoretical classroom learning to real-world challenges in the dynamic field of telecommunications.
The Edge Program is a part-time internship that lets you work on challenging projects and make meaningful contributions while you're still in university. It's flexibly designed to fit around your academic schedule, blending classroom learning with real-world experience for a truly transformative journey. From the get-go, it's an engaging blend of theory and practice, with Telstra offering a unique setting that turns academic concepts into practical knowledge.
Throughout the program we get to build a network of support, from other Edge interns, to coworkers, managers and mentors, which I know will help us to grow professionally and personally as we further explore our careers.
The first weeks were daunting and exciting. Despite the challenge of coordinating with my Melbourne-based team, we quickly established effective virtual collaboration, and I jumped into some exciting projects. The support and guidance from my team members have been invaluable as I've settled in, and helped me feel comfortable and confident in my role. I've already built strong connections, and I learn so much every week.
Going forward, I'm looking forward to learning the real-life skills it takes to be successful in Engineering, and most importantly to enjoy what I'm doing on the way. I am excited to be on this journey with other Edge interns, sharing experiences and learning from each other. Overall, I am feeling really positive about my experience in the program and I'm eager to see what's to come.
If you're interested in enhancing your university experience with practical work that can shape your career, look no further. You'll get a supportive and flexible culture, and the opportunity to tackle complex problems by applying knowledge you gain in the classroom, all while growing yourself personally and professionally.
