Even as headlines warned of hiring freezes and shrinking tech teams, Manan Shah has stayed focused on what he could control. Through a mix of preparation and persistence, he carved out opportunities in a job market where others struggle to get a first look.
Shah is a student in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and will receive his master’s degree in computer science in May. By the time he reached his second fall semester, he had already interned at LinkedIn and Amazon, cracked highly competitive technical interviews, built a social media presence with more than 11,000 followers and secured two full-time job offers.
For a student who started his computer science journey in a regular ninth-grade web programming class, Shah’s path has been anything but linear. But in a volatile tech landscape, he has become a case study in education, strategy and the power of persistence.
From Mumbai to machine learning magic
Shah, who is from Mumbai, India, arrived at the Fulton Schools in 2024 after completing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Mumbai. Although he had a strong academic foundation, he felt something was missing.
His search for a program that blended academic rigor with hands-on learning led him straight to the Fulton Schools.
“I saw the professor list, what courses ASU offers and how flexible they are,” Shah says. “The professors teach an up-to-date machine learning and artificial intelligence curriculum. It’s not just theoretical, but also practical.”
Once at ASU, Shah immersed himself in coursework that would later prove essential during his interviews and internships. He cites Assistant Teaching Professor Ali Altunkaya’s CSE 551 Foundations of Algorithms course as especially pivotal.
“The way he taught me the foundations of algorithms was the very reason I was able to do such good work,” Shah says. “Writing graphics processing unit kernels requires a lot of algorithmic knowledge. And the course helped me a lot.”
That algorithmic specialization dovetailed with his growing interest in large-scale AI model training and infrastructure. These skills made him an ideal fit for LinkedIn’s AI infrastructure team — an internship he landed not by chance, but by strategy.
Shah had spent years intentionally building a strong LinkedIn presence, gathering around 11,000 followers. That visibility paid off when a recruiter from the company reached out to him directly about an internship.
After three rounds of interviews — two technical and one informational — Shah secured the 12-week summer role. He became the first ASU master’s degree student in his cohort to intern in that program.
“There were only 23 master’s degree students for this program and only one from ASU,” he says.
Internships, insights and the road ahead
During the internship, he worked onsite at LinkedIn’s Sunnyvale, California, campus, helping improve the systems that train large AI models to run faster and use less computing power.
Soon afterward, Shah completed a second internship, this time at Amazon, where he built full-stack applications using JavaScript, TypeScript, React and Amazon Web Services tools. That experience further deepened his understanding of large-scale production systems.
Both internships resulted in full-time offers, and Shah ultimately selected LinkedIn. He will begin as a software engineer in systems infrastructure in July 2026, shortly after completing his master’s degree.
Long-term, Shah envisions building tools that will advance health care through AI.
“I really think that health is an industry where AI can help a lot,” he says. “And down the line, I really want to create my own startup as well.”
Shah’s playbook for standing out
Shah’s own journey through the hyper-competitive hiring landscape has made him a go-to resource for peers seeking guidance. His advice begins with intention and commitment.
“I would say be consistent. Don’t just apply blindly,” he says. “Have a quality application.”
Shah also emphasizes the importance of reaching out to engineering managers and recruiters, especially ASU computer science alumni, and building a strong digital presence.
“Having a good LinkedIn profile, having good connections and posting your accomplishments on LinkedIn really helps gain a lot of traction on that platform,” he says.
Part of Shah’s advice for computer science majors includes expanding job searches beyond LinkedIn and other familiar platforms. He says startup and early-stage company founders are also posting roles on X, making it another useful place for students to look.
Currently, Shah is finishing his final semesters, playing soccer and pickleball in the evenings and preparing for a career at the intersection of AI infrastructure and innovation. From a ninth-grade web programming class to highly selective internships and a full-time role at LinkedIn, his journey reflects the drive and determination shared by many Fulton Schools students.
For students navigating their own uncertainties, Shah’s story is a reminder that building habits early, seeking support and staying adaptable can make the road ahead feel a little more manageable.
