TikTok's interns made a splash this summer! We spoke to interns Boyi, Kahlil, and Molly – based in Seattle, Singapore, and London respectively – about why they chose to start their careers at TikTok, and the knowledge and skills they gained during their time here.
What's your role? Why did you choose an internship at TikTok?
Boyi: I'm a research intern at the Data Applied Machine Learning team. I chose to spend my summer here because TikTok has plenty of resources for exploring exciting and cutting-edge research topics.
Kahlil: My role involves monitoring and analyzing public sentiment in relation to ads, supporting risk monitoring, and dealing with any escalations that may occur. The cross-functionality of the role also requires that I work with the Policy and Product teams. I sought out an internship at TikTok because it was a good opportunity to immerse myself in a role that would compel me to adapt to a fast-paced environment.
Molly: I was really excited by TikTok's company values, as I felt they really aligned with the kind of environment I wanted to work in. Equally, I was fascinated by the potential of working on the LIVE team because of its constantly adapting, fast paced nature, and I was keen to learn more about the creator ecosystem and methods of marketing across the platform.
What do you enjoy most in your work?
Kahlil: I monitor media sentiment on certain key issues, and update my colleagues on the most relevant news in the Asia-Pacific reigon. I most enjoy the non-repetitive nature of the role. Something new is happening in the APAC region every day!
Molly: My typical day at work involves managing my time across three focuses: creator recruitment, monetization strategies and campaign management. Each of these streams requires strategic thinking, creativity and organization. I really enjoy working across these different areas, all of which fuel audience engagement. I've always enjoyed working quickly, so being given responsibility and freedom to develop different projects is exciting!
What was a highlight of your summer internship at TikTok?
Kahlil: Getting to know my colleagues who come from all walks of life! It's rare to be able to work with people of so many different nationalities, and I've come to really enjoy it.
Molly: Working with my team to improve marketing strategies for TikTok LIVE. I really enjoy
the process of coming up with an idea, formulating and debating with the team, analyzing strategy and working out commercial solutions. Since starting, I've learned to produce ideas quickly and think in relation to a wider audience's needs.
What's something valuable you've learned so far during your internship?
Boyi: When the resource is not a problem, you can be as creative as you possibly can. Even if an idea seems like a long-shot, you will have the support of your team if it has a high potential return.
Molly: I've really honed my time management skills, which will definitely help me at university, and in future jobs. I've also enjoyed experiencing such a fast paced business environment and practiced how to best use analytical and communication skills to plan strategies according to customer insights to drive growth.
How did your internship experience at TikTok help build your skillsets?
Boyi: My internship at TikTok gives me exposure to large scale Machine Learning model training and inference, which builds my skill on large scale parallelization frameworks.
Kahlil: APAC is a difficult region to analyze with many different cultures and languages at play. On this tangent, I believe that not only through my work but also by interacting with my different colleagues, my experience has deepened and broadened my understanding of the workings of various countries.
Molly: My internship helped me develop my skillset in many areas. Since starting, I've had to utilize communication skills, strategic thinking, remain organized, and really focus on details when considering my projects and day-to-day work. Working across multiple projects in the team really helped me practise time management and encouraged me to work as efficiently as possible to achieve the most I can.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in a TikTok internship?
Boyi: Don't be afraid to bring up new ideas in your project plan as your internship progresses! Always ask people for help if you meet a problem. Everyone here is talented and willing to help you find a solution.
Kahlil: Be open-minded and work to the best of your ability! If you enjoy the work you do, you will never be bored during your experience.
Molly: My main advice would be to do as much research as possible into the various roles at the company, its values, and its different opportunities. As such a creative, global company, it has so much to offer!
Across teams, TikTok interns get the chance to learn, grow, and cultivate inspiration that's infinite. From research that affects global audiences, to supporting advertising across the platform, to managing campaigns on TikTok LIVE, these interns not only grew professionally, but were exposed to experiences that are only available at a fast-paced, creative company like TikTok. If you're looking for hands-on experience at a rapidly-growing company, applications for internships are open now.
