OpenAI Engineer Advocates for Students to Gain Experience in Both Big Tech and Startups

Janvi Kalra, an engineer at OpenAI, advocates for students to pursue diverse experiences post-college through internships at both Big Tech companies and startups. In a podcast discussion, she highlighted her own journey—interning at Microsoft and Google before working at the startup Coda and then joining OpenAI. She detailed the advantages of Big Tech, such as learning to build scalable software, working on long-term projects, and enjoying better financial benefits and prestige. However, she also emphasized the unique benefits of startups, including hands-on programming experience, exposure to a variety of challenges, and greater agency in decision-making. According to Kalra, experiencing both environments early in one’s career provides valuable insights and skills. She believes that a combination of these internships offers a comprehensive understanding of the tech landscape, ultimately helping individuals make informed career choices.

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