Inside Pinterest University Recruiting: Hosting a Toronto Open House

This month, we had the pleasure of hosting a Machine Learning Open House at our Pinterest Toronto office, bringing together over 60 graduate students who are aspiring machine learning interns to connect and learn more about the exciting work happening at Pinterest.

Our agenda featured a mix of technical deep dives, career stories, and insider tips including:

• A discussion on the evolving age of LLMs
• A deep dive into conversion modeling
• A fireside chat with two engineers, who shared their experiences mentoring interns 
• Q&A about life at Pinterest
• A session with Pinterest recruiters, which offered valuable insights into the ML interview process and our internship opportunities.

It was an inspiring evening, filled with knowledge sharing, networking and a behind-the-scenes look at ML at Pinterest. Read on for a full recap of the key takeaways!

Exploring the evolving age of LLMs 

Our event kicked off with an engaging session where one of our talented engineering managers, Patrick Halina, explored the evolving landscape of large language models. The discussion illuminated how modern techniques can harness the power of LLMs to extract and interpret vast amounts of data, offering a glimpse into the future of data-driven insights.

"It was great to meet all the bright students and share our amazing office with them. There was a lot of excitement about the tech we work on and opportunities at Pinterest." 

- Patrick Halina, Machine Learning Engineering Manager II, Toronto 

Diving Into Conversion Modeling

Next, Rafael Müller captivated the audience by delving into the intricacies of conversion modeling. Attendees gained valuable insights into how Pinterest leverages machine learning to optimize conversion processes, ensuring that data translates into actionable strategies that drive growth and user engagement.

"I was pleasantly surprised by how many people attended my presentation on machine learning in conversion modeling….It was especially exciting to see how curious everyone was about the work we are doing here at Pinterest which led to great discussions and plenty of in-depth questions."

- Rafael Müller, Sr. Machine Learning Engineer, Toronto 

Fireside Chat with Former Intern Mentors

We also had a special fireside chat featuring two engineers, Charles Huang and Shubham Barhate, who were previously mentors to interns at Pinterest. They reflected on their experiences mentoring interns, providing insight on how mentors at Pinterest help create a supportive and collaborative culture. Their heartfelt stories resonated with many and sparked an open Q&A session, where attendees engaged in an enriching dialogue about career paths and the scope of work as an intern at Pinterest. 

“Speaking at the ML Open House at Pinterest Toronto was a fantastic experience. The attendees were incredibly engaged and asked a lot of insightful questions about life at Pinterest and our work in ML. It was great to see such enthusiasm and curiosity from the group!” - Charles Huang, Sr. Machine Learning Engineer, Toronto 

The ML Open House event was a blast! It was awesome to see so many bright minds excited to learn more about machine learning at Pinterest. Their enthusiasm was contagious, lighting up the room with lively discussions and insightful questions.” - Shubham Barhate, Machine Learning Engineer, Toronto 

Recruiting Insights

Rounding out the event, our recruiting team also took the stage to walk through the interview process, provided practical tips on how to stand out as a candidate and gave an inside look at the ML internship program in Toronto.

Here is what some of the attendees had to say:

“What an incredible opportunity to connect with brilliant minds and learn about Pinterest's ML innovations firsthand. Loved hearing the behind-the-scenes insights about the Pinterest culture, collaboration approaches, and career paths at Pinterest…..This left me feeling inspired and motivated to continue my ML journey.” 

“My most memorable moment from the event was the insightful discussion on how Pinterest monetizes its platform. The session not only enhanced my understanding of Pinterest's business model but also demonstrated the company's ability to balance user experience with revenue generation effectively.” 

This event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the students within the ML community in Toronto, showcasing the exciting work happening at Pinterest, and highlighting the opportunities available for aspiring ML engineers. Stay tuned for more updates and insights as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of machine learning at Pinterest.

Interested in joining our team or learning more about our internship program? Explore open job opportunities or join our University Talent Community to get started on your journey with Pinterest!