2022 Abnormal Interns: Looking Back on an Abnormal Summer

As the summer draws to a close, so does Abnormal’s first company-wide internship program.

We recognize how valuable internships can be and we strive to create an environment in which young professionals can gain real-world experience that supports their growth. It’s truly been a pleasure working with these hardworking interns over the past three months.

Choosing where to intern is a big decision. To help other young professionals understand what the Abnormal internship experience is like, we asked our interns to share their thoughts.

Saffron Courtney, People Operations Intern

Pursuing MSc in Human Resource Management (University of Strathclyde)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

Encouraging

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Yes!! This isn’t my first internship, but I would definitely say it’s had the most impact on my future career and professional goals. This internship has helped me narrow down the parts of H.R. and People Operations that are truly inspiring to me and determine where I want to go next. A lot of summer internships don’t provide valuable work experience, but this program absolutely does!

Has interning at Abnormal helped you with your personal growth?

Absolutely. I knew when I started here that professional communication and ownership were two things I needed to work on personally to reach my goals. Both of these have been encouraged and developed over the summer here during my internship, and I feel I’ve grown a lot in these areas.

What advice would you give to the incoming interns at Abnormal?

Work hard and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Step up, take ownership of your projects, and truly make this internship into what you want for yourself. If you’re truly motivated to work in a fast-paced environment where you can make an impact, you’ll go far.

Matthew Haydu, Field and Channel Marketing Intern

Pursuing BS in Commerce (University of Virginia)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

Dynamic

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Abnormal gave me the space to dive into a field I find interesting and develop understanding and skills in that area. This has allowed me to move forward in my career with both increased knowledge and passion for my field of interest. I was also able to meet some incredible people within the tech industry and marketing world that have incredible value as mentors and connections.

How would you describe the culture at Abnormal?

The culture at Abnormal is amazing—ambitious, knowledge-seeking, helpful, empathetic, and fun. Abnormal interns get to learn key industry players and practices while working with some of the nicest, most capable people in the industry. It’s clear that creating strong relationships is at the core of Abnormal culture. Ultimately, everyone at Abnormal cares about their work and about their people.

What advice would you give to the incoming interns at Abnormal?

Take initiative and do the stuff no one else wants to do; they’ll love you for it! Don’t let the fear of making a mistake limit your potential either. You’ll learn and accomplish so much if you have a growth mindset during your internship.

Patrick Mandiraatmadja, Strategic Finance Intern

Pursuing MS in Technology Management (Columbia University)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

Riveting

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Interning at Abnormal is a great introduction to the tech industry. Especially with a traditional business background, this experience has bridged my understanding of the intersection between technology and business. Working at a company with a start-up culture has also allowed me to learn so much across industries and verticals in one company.

Has interning at Abnormal helped you with your personal growth?

I’m much more comfortable taking charge of new projects and initiatives. Ownership is something highly valued at Abnormal, and I’ve seen this in action in myself and the people I work with.

How would you describe the culture at Abnormal?

The culture at Abnormal is extremely inviting. Everyone learns together and encourages people to ask questions. Additionally, everyone is very interesting outside of work, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them during our company offsites.

Charles Nordhus, Accounting Department Intern

Pursuing MS in Accounting (University of Colorado Boulder)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

ENERGIZING!

What have you learned during your time at Abnormal?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned at Abnormal is to just have faith in my own abilities. When starting out, I was nervous about being given ownership of projects. But as I completed project after project, I realized that every time I got stuck or didn’t know how to do something, all I had to do was reach out to a coworker and they were more than happy to help me.

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Yes! Since starting at Abnormal, I‘ve been able to challenge myself and learn at the same time by taking ownership of multiple projects and creating new spreadsheets to help track different expenses. Being given this responsibility has allowed me to identify the skills that I lack and improve upon them.

What advice would you give to the incoming interns at Abnormal?

Be open-minded to taking on ownership of projects. It may be intimidating at first, but it really helps build your confidence as an individual and as a teammate to allow the whole group to succeed!

Sharon Tsai, Product Marketing Intern

Pursuing MBA in Technology and Marketing (UCLA Anderson School of Management)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

Heartening

Overall, how would you summarize your Abnormal internship experience?

Interning at Abnormal has absolutely been one of my best decisions. I’m thankful to the people here who recognized my values, guided me through ambiguity, and provided practical and mental support. The opportunity to learn, grow, and tackle real-world problems is beyond my expectation.

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Abnormal has been an excellent platform for me to tap into the tech world and bring my skill sets to the next level. This internship allowed me to dive into an exciting industry, the B2B SaaS environment, and the product marketing field. I was able to get hands-on experience in customer research and artifacts development as well as partake in critical projects with exceptional leaders I admire. All these valuable experiences will continue to motivate me to propel my career.

What advice would you give to the incoming interns at Abnormal?

Think about what transferable skills and values you can bring to the work, and reflect on the WHY behind every task you do. Be proactive; don’t be afraid to ask questions, feedback, or even for more responsibilities. Get ready to meet and learn from the most talented and inspirational people and exercise your critical thinking. You won’t regret this journey!

Hannah Wang, Strategic Finance Intern

Pursuing BS in Business (NYU Stern)

What one word do you think best describes your experience at Abnormal?

Inspiring!

Overall, how would you summarize your Abnormal internship experience?

My internship at Abnormal offered me a breadth and depth of experience at a SaaS company–from familiarizing myself with SaaS metrics to getting more insight into niches I’m interested in. One of my favorite parts of this internship was my BOY project on International Expansion. I worked on competitor analysis, market analysis, business strategy, headcount, and TAM. I also attended meetings about headcount, capacity planning, and other topics just for exposure.

Would you say interning at Abnormal has helped you further your career goals?

Abnormal has so many opportunities to learn outside of just your day-to-day tasks. For example, I participated in the mentorship program in order to get a better understanding of Product Management. I also took on-demand classes to learn skills such as Python. Interns at Abnormal are able to do much more than typically allowed for interns at other companies. I’ve been exposed to multiple industries and had mentors who care about my professional and personal growth.

What advice would you give to the incoming interns at Abnormal?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! This might be cliche, but drilling down on any areas with a lack of understanding is crucial to success. I know it can be intimidating or you can feel like you’re asking a dumb question, but everyone is more than happy to answer all your questions, no matter how many you have.

Brookelynn Miller, People Operations Specialist, has played a crucial role in leading the Abnormal Internship Program. Here's what she had to say:

Abnormal’s Internship Program is centered around creating an environment rich with top talent. Our interns have embraced every opportunity to step up in their roles and further our company's mission of fighting cybercrime. They are lifelong learners who are inspired to lead and make an impact with their work. We encourage collaboration and connectedness across all departments, and the Abnormal Internship Program is one of the many ways we support this initiative.

To learn more about Abnormal and view our open roles, visit our Careers page!