Intern of the Week: Vinodhini Vijayakumar
Check out Vinodhini's Internship!
Name: Vinodhini Vijayakumar
Pronouns: She/her
Semester of Internship: Summer 2026
Major: Information Systems
Current Class Level: Master's Student
This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Tata Consultancy Services
Location of the Organization (City, State): Edison, NJ
Title of position: Software Engineering Intern
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
At TCS, I’ve had the opportunity to work on the eSigner team supporting a Citibank data migration and analysis project where I develop Python scripts to validate and compare large datasets between legacy and target systems. My daily responsibilities include writing and testing code, troubleshooting data inconsistencies, collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand Citibank’s business requirements, and presenting findings to stakeholders. What stands out most is how my mentors have guided me through every step from initial code reviews to architectural decisions making each task a learning opportunity rather than just a checkbox.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I found the TCS internship through LinkedIn, and was impressed by their focus on mentorship and ownership of real projects. I applied the same day and received an immediate response from the hiring team, which is great confirmation of TCS's commitment to talent development.
What resources did you use to find your current experience?
LinkedIn or other social media
What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
The mentorship has been exceptional. My team leads and senior engineers invest genuine time in my growth they don’t just assign tasks, they teach the “why” behind every decision. The positive, collaborative culture at TCS makes coming to work energizing. I’ve also appreciated how the organization trusts interns with meaningful projects that directly impact real clients, which made me feel valued from day one.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I’ve developed Python scripts that automated data validation across multiple address fields, reducing manual checking time by hours and catching inconsistencies that would have caused migration issues. More importantly, I’ve created documentation that helps other team members understand the analysis process, extending the impact of my work beyond the project.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Don’t just chase big company names, seek mentors who genuinely care about your development. Ask questions constantly, volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone, and maintain a positive attitude even when debugging takes longer than expected. Your attitude and willingness to learn matter more than your current skill level.