This as-told-to essay is derived from a detailed conversation with Hung Nguyen, a 21-year-old originally from Vietnam who now resides in Australia. He is currently employed by an AI-driven company that specializes in helping users compare various loan options through advanced automation and data analysis. Business Insider has thoroughly confirmed the legitimacy of his employment history, academic background, and prior internships to ensure the accuracy of this narrative. For readability and coherence, this account has been carefully edited while preserving the substance and authenticity of Hung’s experiences.
When I began my three-month internship with LoanOptions.ai, a fintech startup based in Sydney, I found myself immersed in real projects from the start rather than performing the stereotypical intern tasks like photocopying documents or preparing coffee. My days were spent problem-solving and contributing to tangible outcomes, which made the experience both demanding and rewarding. My managers repeatedly praised my commitment and discipline—qualities I demonstrated through consistent punctuality, diligence in completing every assignment, and an unwavering determination to meet deadlines. This perseverance ultimately yielded substantial results: upon completing my internship, I was offered a full-time role as a policy analyst, a clear testament to the value of sustained effort and dependability.
Business Insider has invited individuals working in artificial intelligence to share their personal journeys, particularly those who have begun their careers in this sector or transitioned into it mid-career. The aim is to understand how emerging professionals, like myself, navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Growing up in Vietnam, I had long envisioned continuing my education and building a professional life abroad. It was not only a personal aspiration but also a common path among my peers and something my father encouraged wholeheartedly. During my search for international universities, I discovered that the SP Jain School of Global Management offered scholarships and operated a campus in Sydney—a city known for its strong job market and high standard of living. To me, Australia symbolized both academic opportunity and the promise of professional growth.
In August 2022, at the age of eighteen, I boarded a plane for my very first trip outside Vietnam. Arriving in Sydney to begin my bachelor’s degree in data science was exhilarating and intimidating in equal measure. Adjusting to a new culture and climate presented its own challenges—especially since August in Sydney meant cold rain, while my hometown was typically sweltering at that time of year. Those early days were marked by homesickness and solitude, yet within two weeks, I began to adapt. Securing a job at a local restaurant proved transformative; it not only built my confidence but also allowed me to become financially independent. Finally, I no longer needed to request support from my parents—a moment that confirmed my ability to stand on my own in a foreign country.
From my very first semester, I was captivated by my coursework. In 2022, data science was rapidly rising in popularity, perceived as one of the most dynamic and promising disciplines. During the summer break that followed, I sought practical experience and landed an internship at a software development center in Vietnam. Although the early stage of my education meant that my contributions were limited to basic coding and mathematics—foundational aspects of my first-year studies—the experience turned out to be invaluable. It introduced me to numerous online resources, particularly those for self-teaching, which would later become cornerstones of my independent learning process.
Among these, the renowned machine learning lecture series by Andrew Ng from Stanford University and the deep learning masterclass by Yann LeCun of New York University stood out as profoundly influential. I discovered both courses on YouTube, and their accessibility shaped the trajectory of my self-education. I often treated coding and machine learning problems as if they were intricate puzzles—mentally taxing yet deeply satisfying when solved. This independent learning not only sharpened my skills but also enhanced my employability by giving me a stronger foundation in a field that prized initiative.
As I advanced in my three-year undergraduate program, my fascination only deepened. Courses on algorithms, machine learning, and deep learning captivated me most, largely because my self-study had already familiarized me with many key concepts. By the time I reached my final year, I felt prepared to leverage that accumulated knowledge in a professional environment.
It was then that I sent my résumé to the placement officer at SP Jain, who connected me to an opportunity at LoanOptions.ai. The initial interview was less about technical ability and more about personality, adaptability, and cultural fit—whether I could integrate naturally into the company’s collaborative and fast-paced environment. I was thrilled when I received an offer for a three-month internship as a policy analyst, beginning in December 2024, right before entering the second half of my final year.
Between January and April 2025, I balanced an exceptionally demanding schedule: my ongoing undergraduate studies, a part-time job as a hotel receptionist to cover my living expenses, and my internship at LoanOptions.ai. At times, I felt stretched thin—typically spending two days a week attending classes, three days fulfilling my internship duties, and carving out additional hours for hotel shifts. One vivid memory stands out from that period: late March, as I neared a project deadline, I found myself multitasking relentlessly—writing code during breaks at the hotel, returning to the front desk to assist guests, and checking the progress of my data training scripts every couple of hours. Those moments epitomized both the exhaustion and exhilaration of pursuing multiple goals simultaneously.
After spending my initial weeks at LoanOptions.ai familiarizing myself with company documents and understanding the technical architecture, I transitioned into substantive work. My core tasks involved analyzing lender policies, extracting the underlying logical rules governing loan eligibility and terms, and then transforming those logical conditions into functional code. The process required careful attention to detail and the ability to translate complex policy language into structured, machine-readable logic.
Throughout the internship, I came to realize that what distinguished me most was my strong work ethic. I didn’t necessarily work longer hours than anyone else, nor did I take on excessive overtime, but I maintained unwavering consistency and followed every task through to completion. In a professional setting, I discovered that while technical skills can be acquired on the job, a disciplined mindset cannot—it reveals itself in reliability and accountability. Managers recognize those traits almost immediately.
As my internship drew to a close, I was uncertain whether a permanent position would materialize. Aware that budget constraints might determine my fate, I nevertheless approached my manager several times to express my hope of joining the team full-time. Eventually, in April—just a month before my graduation—I received the news I had been waiting for: LoanOptions.ai was extending a full-time offer for me to continue as a policy analyst. It was both the culmination of my hard work and the beginning of my professional journey in the field of artificial intelligence.
Reflecting on my path, I can see how my early dedication to mathematics and coding provided a crucial springboard. That foundation allowed me to grasp advanced concepts such as machine-learning algorithms and deep-learning neural networks more quickly and confidently. My experience has convinced me that the university years are an ideal time to explore professional environments through internships. Each one offers unique lessons—the first helps you identify what knowledge you need to build, while the second tests your ability to apply it in real-world contexts. In my case, that second internship not only affirmed my readiness for the industry but also seamlessly transitioned into a career that lies at the heart of today’s technological transformation.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-get-ai-job-full-time-before-graduating-college-internship-2025-10
