I interned at JP Morgan and Microsoft as a software engineer. This is my secret to landing offers.

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 05:07

Ume looking through a window wearing a green dress — Ume Habiba says having a brand is her secret to success.
Katie Dobihal

Ume Habiba landed internships at JP Morgan, Cisco Meraki, Estee Lauder, and Microsoft.
She built an authentic brand on LinkedIn, focusing on diversity and inclusion in tech.
Her strategic use of LinkedIn and résumé optimization for AI helped secure these opportunities.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ume Habiba, a 22-year-old college student at the University of Maryland. It's been edited for length and clarity.