In the last week of August 2025, I landed in Vasterás ro begin my Master’s programme at Malafalen UNiversity, brimming with excitement and nerves abotu this new phase of my life. AI was in eeryon’es moyth adn as a software ebgineer, I was looking for ways to dip my tis in the water. Play around with it while I study and get exposed to this new dripping the atmosphere. learn about AI
Then I saw the announcements for the Hogskola (career fair) on campus, I remember being excited to see lots of tech companies o the list. Surely, there’s gotta be one where I could intern at. I remeber speakig excitedly with my classmates and friends in their 2nd year and everyone was like oh, don’t bother. you’ll never get an internship, international students rarley do. Just go for the goodies and souvenirs. I felt a bit dissapointed at that news.
But did I guve up totally on my dreams? no, no. I remember stubbornly taking pictures of the copabies on the flyer on campus while my friends rolled my eyes at the supposed futility of my actions. Two days before the fair, I sat in front of my laptop and started searching each of the companies one by one. My criteria was simple: was this company builing an AI-powered product or were they using AI and ML in their daily dailiy. If yes, they made it to my list of companies to speak no.
Then I read about each of those companies in the list in details:
SCAILAB
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PArtial to SCAILAB as it was a startup founded by a PhD student and there were current students or recent graduates on the tem, looked liek were I could fit in and their webstie and LInkedIn said they were looking for AI enigneers, ML engineers, designers, game developers, software engineers. Made a list of questions I could ask each and how I would present myself, as a student wanting to learn and also help out in anyway, for the startups
The day of the fair arrived and my strategy was simple: work from the company I was leats interested in to the one I was most interested in, that wasy I gradually build up confidence and get rid of nerves. I went with a coule of friedns and classmates and in between eahc booth, we would take the time to laugh, take pictures, and create cool memories
Finally, when I got to SCAILAB’s booth and the CEO himself was there. I got jumpy, I was a bit relaxed, I smiled, intorduced myself, gave a back hsistory of myself and why I would love to work with . He looked tred and stressed, and admitted he had been on his feet all day talking to interesed students, but told me he was reaaly interested in my profile. He gave me his business card and asked me to send an email with my CV, so he could read through it and set up a meeting.
I was so excited and relieved. I was a strong enogu candidate, I left the fair very very happy as it looked like I was close to achieveing my dreams. and I even got some goodies along th way: a water bottle and a tote bag!
I spent the weekend crafting refining my CV to match with what I hoped they wanted, then I sent a mail. referrig to our discussion. I got a response and got invited for an interivew. It was pretty chill and laid back, and they just telling me what they expected, how long the internship would run for, and my plans for combinin tit with my stufies and when I wanted to resume.
In a week’s time, I resumed with a contract annd within the next few months got to learn how achine learning isu used in textile industrues while helping build an d maintian the sites, also pushed out some cool features as well
I have had so much fun, learnt so much, and exosed me to so many opporutnities for further learning, I’ve made freids, and even learned how to bowl. Here’ a cool videp of me and my work colleagues at a bowling alley.
Lesson Learnt
If you’re coming to Sweden or already here and wan tto work with a company, do your research, which company aligns with your gaols and desires.That way, your efforst are targted and concetrated instead of being spread too far
Don’t let anyone tell you what is achievable or not. Someone I met at a summer outing a couple of weeks ago said something that completelt encapsulates it. DOn’t be satsified with a second-hand No. Even if everyone around you says this has never worked for them, it ‘s your duty and repsonsibility to yourself to give it a shot
Lead witht he value you can provide always. What have you done in the past that is simolar to ths and that you can bring to bear in this new role/job/oportunity
Do your research, amke a plan, rehearse your elevator putch, and execute!
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