Mary-Ann Kingu | Young Engineers Australia

Learn about Mary-Ann's internship experience and the career development skills she's gained in the professional work environment.

Mary-Ann Kingu

Name: Mary-Ann Kingu

Location: South Australia

Course & University: Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics, Engineering (Honours), University of South Australia

Graduation: 2021

How did you find out about your internship opportunity?: My lecturer/ program director at the time - Dr. Yee Wei Law recommended several companies to me (of which REDARC was included) because during that time I struggled to get internships because I'm an international student.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your internship?: The importance of time-management. I was fortunate to be offered an opportunity to continue working after my 3-month internship, which was the first time that I juggled part-time while studying. It was a challenge at first, but I soon realised that I needed to manage my time well so that I did my best at work and at uni.
What are the ways Engineers Australia helped you throughout the internship process?: Last year I struggled a lot seeking internships because there are limited opportunities available to international students like myself. I attended an Engineers Australia event that was hosted on campus whereby panellists were sharing their experiences and giving tips about securing internships and nailing interviews. One of the panellists was an international student and hearing from her that she went through the same, but still managed to get an internship was reliving. By applying what I learnt from the event, I eventually landed a paid internship with REDARC Electronics.
What types of things were you involved with during your internship?: Was mostly involved with PCB design, testing and calibration of equipment on site.
What opportunities has your internship given you?: I was offered further employment after completing my internship at REDARC Electronics.
What advantages has completing the internship given you?: I applied gained new knowledge and applied theoretical concepts I gained at uni. I also improved my interpersonal skills like teamwork, communication, and time management.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your internship?: Definitely, designing PCBs for RF and electrical applications. I wasn’t familiar with the process before my internship, I think that is why I found it challenging. But, I had support from my supervisors and other colleagues at REDARC which made it less of a challenge.
What was the main thing that you learnt during your internship that you’ve since been able to apply to your professional life/studies: The importance of time management. I was fortunate to be offered an opportunity to continue working after my 3-month internship, which was the first time that I juggled part-time while studying. It was a challenge at first, but I soon realized that I needed to manage my time well so that I did my best at work and at uni.