The future starts here: 3 insights on the journey from intern to full-time TIer

Every year, more than 2,000 interns around the world step onto our sites with the goal of building their career. They dive into real-world projects that define the future of technology, build skills they can use throughout their careers, and learn alongside experienced engineers, leaders, and mentors.

But their impact extends past the limited number of months that an internship lasts.

"Our interns aren't just an extra pair of hands," said Yesenia Moore, vice president of Talent Management at TI. "They're our future workforce."

With every experience, TI interns are making strides toward shaping their professional future and the future of semiconductor innovation.

So, how does an internship lay the groundwork for a long-term career focused on making an impact on the technologies that shape everyday life?

We talked with three former TI interns, now full-time employees, about their journeys, the innovative work they’re contributing to, and the insights they have for future TIers.

Insight No. 1: Welcome challenges, even if they feel daunting

As a college student in Austin, Texas, Jin Lee was at a crossroads. He had two interests: business and engineering. But his ideal career combined both. “When I found that TI was hiring product marketing engineering interns, I felt ecstatic. It was a perfect mix of both of my interests,” he said. “Plus, I knew plenty of people at TI who had built their careers over decades. I could easily envision myself in that position.”

By successfully tackling challenges that initially appeared daunting during his internship, Jin developed confidence in his capabilities and a curious, independent mindset that has proven vital throughout his professional journey at TI. Upon starting at TI full-time, Jin realized he could talk about TI’s technologies with business and procurement people but didn’t know how to translate his knowledge to engineers. “I knew that was a gap I wanted to fill, so I wanted to gain familiarity with our products,” said Jin. “I saw an open software engineering position. I was uncertain at first – it was a totally new role. But then I felt excited, because I knew it was what I needed to advance my career.”   

When it was time to lead a high-stakes project that involved building a data capture platform for TI processors, Jin was more than ready thanks to the insights he had gained from his internship experience. None of Jin’s opportunities would have been possible without diving headfirst into opportunities that may otherwise seem intimidating, and he stresses the same learning to interns.

“Asking questions and showing curiosity early can open doors to new opportunities, whether it’s going deeper in your role or broadening your experience across other teams,” he said. 

Insight No. 2: Explore different options to discover the best career path for you

Riya Kumar knew she wanted to build her career at a company that gave her exposure to many different domains, so when her peers told her about TI's 11-month internship in India, she wasted no time applying.

Though Riya worried about the transition from the structured college environment to a professional working environment, the collaborative spirit her co-workers fostered elevated her internship from a working experience to a true learning experience where she could engage with many people in different disciplines. “I had a great support system at TI,” she said. “It was a healthy environment to learn, ask questions, and pinpoint the areas where I wanted to grow.”

Riya is now a software engineer, a role that has further deepened her learning. She continues to develop new skills, sharpen her technical knowledge and explore different domains at TI. Through a development initiative that gives new TIers exposure beyond their primary roles, she has uncovered new interests and gained a broader view of the company, particularly the business side. Riya’s career journey has informed her advice to current interns.

“Interact with people across many different areas at TI, from software development to business management,” she said. “I wouldn’t have known where I wanted to grow professionally if I hadn’t made those connections.”

Insight No. 3: Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Lukas Sommer loved studying electrical engineering. When it was time to apply for internships, he wanted to go a step further and combine his technical knowledge with business skills. Learning that TI offered internships spanning sales and engineering domains, he quickly applied to a role that would enable him to complete his bachelor’s thesis, required by German universities.

As a TI intern in Germany, Lukas valued the variety of his work and the resources available to support him while he was learning the role. “I had a dedicated supervisor I could always contact, and an assigned buddy who could field more informal questions,” he said. “It felt like I had the best of both worlds.”

Now working as a TI technical sales representative in the automotive sector, Lukas encourages new TIers to reach out to the colleagues around them. “I knew I wanted to start my career in sales, but there’s the question of what kind of sales,” he said. “Automotive? Industrial? Mass market? My colleagues encouraged me to talk to people in these areas, and it really helped me figure out my direction.”

Lukas’ advice? “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. So many people around you were in your position before. They know how you feel, they know the challenges you’re facing, and they want to help you.”

A foundational experience for the road ahead

For decades, we’ve been creating technology that defines the future and rewrites how people live, work, and connect with each other.

But no breakthrough is possible without the minds who dare to welcome challenges, explore new opportunities and ask questions. At TI, the future starts here by cultivating an environment where early-career employees can blossom into experts, mentors and leaders.

“I'm excited to go into work every day because the impact of what we’re doing is lived by billions of people,” said Riya. “That’s what made my internship so meaningful, and I still feel that way today.”