I Went In for an Internship and Came Out With a Career

Hi, I’m Riya Dhabuwala, a Computer Science and Engineering student at Nirma University, Ahmedabad, with a CGPA of 9.0. I’m passionate about software development, problem solving, and AI/ML.

My placement journey took me to JPMorgan Chase & Co., where I joined as a Software Engineer Program Intern and later received a full time offer.

The DSA Skills I Built Along the Way

takeUforward played an important role in my DSA preparation. I primarily used it to understand concepts in a structured way and then put those concepts into practice through problems.

What helped me most was the clarity of the explanations. Instead of simply memorising solutions, I focused on understanding the reasoning behind them and learning how to approach different types of problems.

Over time, this helped me become more comfortable with unfamiliar questions and gave me the confidence to tackle DSA based coding rounds.

From Concepts to Problem Solving

My preparation started with getting my DSA fundamentals right and then gradually building consistency through regular practice.

I covered important areas such as:

• Arrays and Strings

• Linked Lists, Stacks and Queues

• Trees and Graphs

• Recursion and Dynamic Programming

• Common problem solving patterns

The focus was never just on finishing topics. I wanted to understand the patterns behind the problems and become faster at recognising which approach could work.

Alongside DSA, I also prepared core CS subjects, projects, and communication skills so that I was ready for different stages of the placement process.

The First Real Test of My Preparation

The JPMorgan Chase selection process gave me an opportunity to put my preparation to the test. The initial stage involved DSA based questions, where the fundamentals and problem solving approach I had built became especially useful.

Being able to break down a problem, think through the approach, and arrive at a solution gave me the confidence to move through the technical stages.

Eventually, I secured the Software Engineer Program internship.

The Internship Wasn’t the Finish Line

• Getting the internship was a major milestone, but there was still another step ahead.

• During my internship, I had the opportunity to learn in a professional environment and apply what I had prepared for beyond coding rounds. After completing the internship, I was fortunate to receive a full time offer from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

• That made the journey even more meaningful because the preparation had taken me from learning DSA to securing an internship and eventually converting it into a full time opportunity.

Build Before You Chase

My biggest advice is to focus on consistency rather than trying to finish everything as quickly as possible.

• Build your DSA fundamentals properly.

• Understand the logic instead of memorising solutions.

• Learn from the problems you get wrong.

• Revise concepts and patterns regularly.

• Balance DSA with core CS subjects and projects.

• Work on your communication so you can explain your thinking clearly.

• Don’t let difficult problems or rejections discourage you.

You don’t need to have everything figured out at once. Keep improving one step at a time.

The Work That Led Me Here

Looking back, my journey was built through small improvements over a long period of time. takeUforward gave me a structured way to learn DSA and helped me develop the problem solving foundation I needed for technical interviews.

What started with learning concepts and solving problems eventually led to an internship at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that internship later became a full time opportunity.

I’m genuinely grateful to takeUforward for being a part of this journey and for helping me build the confidence to take the next step in my career.