Name: Sairam Bokka
Pronouns: He/Him
Semester of Internship: Summer 2024
Major: Cybersecurity
Current Class Level: Master's Student
This semester I completed a(n)... Internship
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Tenable Network Security
Location of the Organization (City, State): Columbia, Maryland
Title of position: Software Engineering Intern
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
My focus during my time at Tenable was to develop a bot that can handle Technical Support and Customer queries about flagged CVEs and Advisory information. Based on the status of a package, the bot would reply to the Tech Support team with relevant information. As part of this project, I had to set up a Docker environment and start writing Python scripts with unit tests for each function I developed. At the end of my internship, I used Jenkins to automatically build the bot from source and deployed a bash script to automatically pull a new image after the build process was completed.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I was able to obtain this position through the BEYA Conference in February 2024. I met with the Talent Acquisition Manager at one of the Tenable booths and explained my qualifications and projects, highlighting the technologies I had used. She identified a position that was a great fit for my skills. I followed up with her on LinkedIn later and sent my resume. She then set up interviews with a Senior Software Developer and the Hiring Manager of the team I was going to join.
What resources did you use to find your current experience?
Career fairs, networking events (UMBC Connects, Info Sessions, Arts With a Purpose, etc.), LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
I enjoyed learning new things every day with the help of my mentor. He was supportive throughout my journey as an intern at Tenable. The HR team made the experience informative and fun through multiple networking events, listen-and-learns, and fun activities after office hours.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
My work significantly improved response times for common queries from customers and tech support engineers. The bot I developed was able to provide an instant response on Slack automatically when asked about a specific CVE. This eliminated the manual process in place, which required engineers to manually go through repositories to find a fix version for the CVE in question.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Start early, apply for positions that match your profile, and attend as many networking events as possible. The formula for success in today’s job market is Applications + Networking + Follow-ups. For help crafting your resume, cover letters, and general interview tips, make use of Career Center resources. They are professionals and your best allies during your job search.
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
Continuous learning was an integral part of my work at Tenable. I was learning something new every day as part of my work. The hybrid work environment allowed me to meet my team in person two days a week, which helped me understand the project structure better and provide value in every sprint. The Career Center helped me craft the perfect resume for my internship, prepare for interviews, write cover letters, and improve my networking skills.
