The decision
Take the year that changes the question
Aarabhi Krishnakumar had already completed two internships when an interview with BWT Alpine offered a different kind of opportunity: a full year in Oxford. Graduation could wait; the chance to work around a Formula One build could not.
The decision was not simply about prestige. She wanted experience, exposure and a closer view of how ambitious things get made.
The work
Learn where design meets the floor
At Alpine, Krishnakumar worked between design and build teams, improving drawings and helping the overall build move forward. Seeing both perspectives clarified what she liked: practical manufacturing, real parts and conversations that happen away from a screen.
Earlier roles at Bombardier, Lockheed Martin and Canada Post made the contrast sharper. Internships gave her a map of interests rather than a single job title.
The next move
Use experience as evidence
A part-time role with the Canadian Space Agency and the Alpine experience helped her land a process engineering job at Tesla Toronto. The F1 work stood out because it showed how she worked, not just what she studied.
For students and alumni, the takeaway is to treat internships as experiments. Each one can tell you what kind of room, pace and problem you want next.
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