A Pinterest University Recruiting event recap

The University Recruiting team hosted an exciting event at our San Francisco headquarters to connect with students in the Bay Area. "Very Creative, Very Inspiring: Kickoff Your Career at Pinterest" welcomed 150 attendees and built connections with local student organizations. The event agenda included a culture panel, University Recruiting presentation, engaging roundtable discussions and a networking session. Each employee volunteer was hired through our University program or graduated from one of the invited schools, making their stories and experiences even more compelling for our attendees. In this blog, we’re excited to give you a glimpse into the event.

Culture panel

We kicked off the event with a culture panel that gave attendees a glimpse into life at Pinterest. Event attendees rated this session the highest for its authenticity and inspiring insights. We asked Janani Vijaykumar, a Pinterest Software Engineer and alumna from University of California Berkeley, why she was eager to share her story as a panelist. 

“I had an incredible time volunteering at the University Recruiting event held in our San Francisco office. The highlight for me was sharing my journey of joining Pinterest, my dream company since high school, as a new grad engineer. Speaking in front of numerous university students was a surreal experience and truly felt like a full circle moment, especially because many attendees were from my alma mater, UC Berkeley, and some even went to my high school. During the panel, I was able to share how I had initially applied for an internship position at Pinterest but didn't receive an offer. However, by staying in touch with my recruiter, I eventually secured a full-time role a year later on the Business Intelligence team, where I've gained invaluable experience over the last four years. I'm truly grateful for the chance to give back by offering guidance and advice to the next generation of engineers, just as I've been supported by so many in my own career journey.”

University Recruiting presentation

Our University Recruiting team was enthusiastic about meeting students and sharing more about the interview process. Our recruiters led a presentation covering current openings, the hiring timeline, the Pintern experience and valuable tips for candidates. We asked Gabrielle Zuccaro, Pinterest University Recruiter, why she was excited about the event: 

“I was thrilled to travel to the San Francisco office for the ‘Kickstart Your Career at Pinterest’ event! After a two-year hiatus from in-person recruiting events, it was so energizing to connect face-to-face with so many talented tech students. Being among my engineering peers, listening to their unique Pinterest journeys, and sharing my own insights for the interview process and internship experience was nothing short of inspiring. The room was alive with energy and enthusiasm, but what truly excited me were the small group chats with students who shared my passion for Pinterest's creative world. A delightful surprise was meeting some familiar faces from our virtual summer series—talk about a full-circle moment! I'm so glad I got to participate in the in-person event and experience Pinterest's energetic culture.”

Roundtable discussions

To bring everything together and foster deeper connections, we invited Pinterest employees to moderate roundtable discussions. This gave attendees the chance to dive in, ask tough questions and get real insights from those who kick started their Pinterest journey through a University program or graduated from a local Bay Area university. One of our volunteers, Deon Richmond, a Pinterest Machine Learning Engineer and recruit from Stanford University, shared why he was eager to volunteer:

“When I heard of the opportunity to speak to current students about my experiences at Pinterest, I was excited for two reasons. The first being the chance to help others understand and navigate the daunting task of applying for software engineering positions. It wasn’t too long ago where I was in a similar position of feeling under-prepared for the application process, and I wanted to hopefully ease their mind by telling them about my journey. 

The second was that I love any opportunity to brag about Pinterest. As a result of working on the Pinterest platform, which aims to be a bright place of fun and inspiration, you end up catching that infectious feeling. Whenever you get inspired you end up wanting to share that with everyone, and what better way to do that than talking directly with future graduates.”

Networking

The rest of the event was all about fun and connection. Students mingled with Pinterest employees, savored delicious food and captured memories at the photo booth. They left buzzing with excitement from the genuine, inclusive and creative vibes at Pinterest! We can't wait to see some familiar faces join us as interns and new grads soon.

Apply now to join our University programs. Creating a career you love? It’s possible. 

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