I am Purvi Rathore, currently in my third year (after second year when I did the internship). In my second year summers I interned at Bank of Baroda as an Operations Risk Intern working on ML projects. This article gives an overview of how I got this internship and my experience during those two months.

About the Internship:

Company: Bank of Baroda
Role: Operations Risk Intern (ML Project)
Duration: 2 months (May and June 2025)
Mode: On-site
Company Type: MNC
Department: IT

How I Got the Opportunity:

I secured this opportunity through a combination of referral and cold emailing.

Selection Process:

• Resume screening
• One interview (more of an interaction to understand my interests)

Preparation & Previous Experience:

Key Preparation:

• ITSP Computer Vision Project - This was crucial for my role
• Data Science Minor - Helped me understand basic ML concepts needed for the work

Previous Experience That Helped:

• ITSP (Institute Technical Summer Project) provided the foundational computer vision knowledge

Primary Responsibilities:

Main Project: Signature Fraud Detection System

• Developed a signature fraud detection model
• Built a website interface for the model
• Created a Proof of Concept (PoC) intended for bank-wide integration
• End-to-end development from model creation to web implementation

Work Culture & Experience:

Challenges:

• Limited guidance despite receiving some mentorship
• Poor work culture - didn’t enjoy the working environment
• Few young employees/interns in the IT department
• Bank doesn’t officially hire UG interns, making integration difficult
• Very limited interaction with senior employees except manager

Onboarding: The IT department structure wasn’t conducive to intern integration, leading to isolation from broader team interactions.

Key Learnings:

Technical Skills:

• Independent CV Model Development - Built computer vision model from scratch
• Hands-on Machine Learning Experience - Valuable practical implementation
• Full-stack Development - Website creation and integration

Non-Technical Skills:

• Real-life corporate experience - Understanding professional environments
• Senior Interaction Skills - How to communicate with leadership
• Presentation Skills - Presenting work to leadership team
• Professional Soft Skills - Corporate etiquette and communication

Career Impact:

Important Realization: This internship helped me decide that I don’t want to continue/pursue ML roles in the future. Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is as valuable as knowing what you do want.

Recommendations for Juniors:

Primary Strategies:

• LinkedIn outreach and cold mailing are most common methods
• Prioritize referrals - Look for contacts who can refer you (makes process simpler and faster)

Advice for First-Time Interns:

Application Mindset:

• Keep trying - Don’t get disheartened by rejections
• Learning Experience - Take every procedure as a learning opportunity
• Follow Your Passion - Most importantly, choose what you like

Reality Check: Don’t be discouraged by rejections; persistence and genuine interest in the role matter more than perfect applications.

Core vs Non-Core Decision:

Recommendation: Focus on what you want to do. Don’t choose roles based on external pressures or expectations - align internships with your interests and career goals.

Important Takeaway:

This internship was valuable not because I loved the work, but because it provided clarity about my career direction. Understanding what doesn’t excite you is equally important for making informed career decisions.

Contact Information:

• LDAP: 23b2163