Browsing by Author "Siaw, Edward K."

An internship experience is usually unique and fun, but it could be even more enriching than it already is. When relocating to unfamiliar cities students and early graduates from all over may face issues such as: isolation, limited networking opportunities, and a lack of access to local resources. This may prove to hinder the potential for both personal and professional growth during one’s exciting internship. This thesis introduces a new platform titled InternX, designed to address these challenges by fostering connections, providing practical resources, and enhancing community engagement. Guided by user-centric design principles, the platform integrates localized networking tools, event coordination features, and career development resources to create a seamless and enriching experience.

LinkedIn data was used identify cities with high concentrations of interns and user insights were gathered through informal discussions. Findings reveal demands for specific tools and options that have undiscovered potential to open peer connections, mentorship opportunities, and access to city-specific information. The proposed platform development was built utilizing HTML, JavaScript, and CSS for its design, and firebase and Sitetjet. A survey potentially to be used in the future was also designed intended for user insights.

This thesis further explores the broader implications of InternX, highlighting its potential to expand beyond internships to serve diverse populations like new hires and freelancers. However, challenges such as resource constraints and technical complexities, and user-generated content are acknowledged as areas for refinement. Although this website was built for my senior thesis, I have intentions to continue its development post-grad.