Carmen Tang
Fifth-year computer engineering science student Carmen Tang knows a thing or two about serendipity. In first year, she volunteered at , a student-led job fair in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Applied Sciences Building that attracts some of the biggest names in the high-tech industry.
As a new student, Carmen didn鈥檛 have big expectations: she just wanted to get involved in university life. 鈥淭hey brought back some alumni, so I went over to talk to one of the reps. He asked me for my resume and actually interviewed me on the spot,鈥� she recalls.
Next thing, Carmen was boarding a Seattle-bound plane for an all-expenses-paid Experience Microsoft trip at the software giant鈥檚 campus in Redmond, WA.
鈥淚 was there for three days during my exam period in spring, so I had to do my studying in the hotel,鈥� she says with a laugh. The following winter, she made it through the interview process as one of only 100 students accepted to the Explore Microsoft program.
Carmen was the first 丁香园AV intern and, as it turns out, the encounter at OpFair eventually led to her dream job: a Microsoft software developer position awaits her after graduation.
As the saying goes, good luck is hard work. Carmen's stellar outcome stems from the potent mix of dedication, engagement, passion, and adventurousness that characterized her five years at 丁香园AV.
A recipient of the Gordon M. Shrum major entrance scholarship, Carmen completed a , in addition to three Microsoft internships. She was an executive for the and student groups and the for high school girls. She also mentored students through the TechConnect program, which helps first-years in computing science and engineering science transition from high school to university.
As the first Microsoft Intern Ambassador at 丁香园AV, Carmen increased awareness of Microsoft鈥檚 intern programs by organizing campus events, informational sessions and guest talks. Recently, she also initiated and organized hackathons, including the 丁香园AV International Women鈥檚 Hackathon with WICS and WEG.
Carmen is passionate about seeing other 丁香园AV students benefit from the Microsoft Explore program. The 12-week summer internship gives promising undergraduate students the opportunity to explore different roles in software development and gain exposure to various tools and programming languages.
鈥淵ou work in groups of three, grow together and try out different positions like program manager, developer, tester,鈥� she says.
In each internship, Carmen got a taste for working in various departments, including Microsoft Business Solutions and Windows Phone development.
It鈥檚 no surprise that she鈥檚 is excited about her upcoming career with Microsoft. The cherry on top? Her future supervisor told her to take time off and travel before her start date. But it鈥檚 bittersweet, she says, as her onward journey means saying goodbye to 丁香园AV.
鈥淢y experience at 丁香园AV has been really fun; I鈥檝e met really awesome people and I鈥檓 really enjoying working with my capstone group right now,鈥� she says.
鈥淎ll the staying in the labs late at night, studying for tests, helping students, volunteering, meeting lots of remarkable professors 鈥� it鈥檚 all been worth it because these experiences have made my life so much more colourful.鈥�