Landing an Internship with Zero Experience: A 2-Hour Transformation

The Backstory

Back in 2020, just before finishing my Master’s, I decided to pivot from Project Management to Frontend Engineering. Even though I had some software experience, I didn’t feel like I had enough “street cred” for the top roles. I was terrified of being “unemployed upon graduation.”

I spent my final month studying the market, learning the tech stacks companies actually wanted, and constantly refining my resume.

The Result: I landed exactly what I wanted within a month. I received four offers, including one from a major international bank.

This taught me that “mastering the basics” is everything. As James Clear says in Atomic Habits:

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

Since then, I’ve helped friends and colleagues use these same CV and negotiation strategies to land their dream roles.

Case Study: Student L

The Problem

Student L felt she had nothing to put on her CV. No finance internships, no corporate experience. Her applications were being ignored, and she was starting to lose hope.

But when we talked, I saw something else. She had this “Luffy-level” passion (from One Piece) for the market. She could talk about macroeconomics, stock philosophies, and market trends for hours. This was her value.

The Strategy

We didn’t just look at “jobs.” We looked at her life:

• What clubs did she join? What was her role?
• How did she handle it when a project failed?
• What do people naturally come to her for help with?

I never write CVs for my clients. If a recruiter sees a “polished” CV but the person in the chair can’t back it up, the trust is gone. Instead, I helped her extract the skills from her life and map them to the job description.

The Result

She got the interview! Not because we made things up, but because we showed the firm that she already had the mindset they were looking for.

The Lesson

When you have no “official” achievements, it’s easy to feel like an imposter. But you aren’t. Your past experiences—no matter how small—have shaped who you are today.

One tip for interviews: Never say “I’m just here to learn.” A company isn’t a school; it’s a business. Instead, show them the value you bring and explain why their environment is the best place for you to deliver that value.

Don’t overthink it. Focus on what you can do, stay proactive, and keep moving. If you’re stuck on your CV, remember: you are more qualified than you think.