Case studies: Summer internship, Infosys: Mario Lin

Mario did an eight week placement with the InStep internship programme run by Infosys, the global consulting and technology company

I'm studying for a Masters in Management, Information Systems and Innovation at the London School of Economics. As IT is a major part of the Masters, I wanted to find an internship programme that would give me relevant experience.

Having conducted a great deal of research, the Infosys InStep program seemed ideal for me: not only did it provide the opportunity to work for a global leader in the technology space, but as the programme is run from the Infosys campus in Bangalore, it exposed me to one of world's most exciting markets.

The programme includes a mix of undergraduates, Masters, MBA and even Phd students - Infosys recruits 175 interns each year from the top 138 universities across the globe from different countries. You cannot find such diverse backgrounds in just any internship programme and I feel proud to have been a part of this experience.

Getting to India was simple. Infosys pays for all travel expenses and provides interns with free accommodation on its campus, as well as a monthly stipend and other benefits like free transportation in the city and health insurance. The campus itself is huge and the facilities are excellent - it's definitely somewhere I would be very happy to work.

The work itself was fascinating. You get to choose which areas of the business you want to work in during the application process - analysis, big data, research or another area entirely depending on your academic background. I had selected research and was put to work as part of a team looking at how social media behaviour can be used to improve talent management within human resources (HR). This was particularly useful for me as I am intending to write my dissertation around the topic of social media and it gave me just the sort of practical experience I needed.

Outside of work, we were given the opportunity to take part in workshops on the IT industry, as well as cultural workshops aimed at helping us connect with foreign cultures and diverse business etiquettes. We even had the chance to meet with the company's senior management at conferences, high teas and other events. I don't know of any other internship program where you get such easy access to the members of the board.

Throughout the two month internship I was supported by a project mentor. He was always on hand to answer all my questions and help progress my work effectively. The project mentor and student mentor also provide support to adjust to life in India. Throughout the internship I was made to feel like an important part of the team, and I worked eight hour shifts - although the timings I worked were entirely up to me.

The InStep program has given me some invaluable skills for the future. The approach to conducting in-depth research will stand me in good stead both for the remainder of my studies and for my chosen career as an IT consultant. It has also improved my communication skills and I feel well prepared for the sort of team work a career in IT requires.