Internship Experience: LG

Securing the internship

Interning at LG in the R&D department of the washing machine division was an incredible opportunity that offered me invaluable experiences and insights into the corporate world. I secured this internship off-campus through a contact at LG who informed me of intern roles in R&D. Sending my resume to this acquaintance then led to a phone call interview, which was straightforward with a few simple technical questions, and afterwards, I was placed in the R&D department for washing machines.

Interview Preparation

I didn’t engage in any specific preparation for the interview; instead, I followed a simple thumb rule: speaking with confidence and maintaining a positive attitude. This mindset helped me navigate the interview smoothly, and it’s a strategy I believe can work in any setting.

Objectives and Responsibilities

My primary objective during the internship was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the washing machine development process. I delved into various technical aspects, including the assembly line, and was actively involved in developing a new washing machine that LG was preparing to launch. My responsibilities included conducting quality checks in the Development Quality Assurance (DQA) labs and engaging in value innovation through benchmarking competitors in the market. Additionally, I helped verify incoming products and conducted tests in the Supply Quality Assurance (SQA) lab, though this was not my primary focus.

Challenges Faced

I faced challenges adapting to the work culture at LG Pune, as the factory was 1.5 hours from the city centre. We took a bus provided by LG at 6 AM to reach the factory by 8 AM and returned after 5 PM, often travelling for 2 hours due to the traffic. This made my workday around 13 hours, requiring me to wake up at 5 AM daily. Each day brought new challenges, but I was proactive in asking questions. I was grateful to be assigned to the washing machine department, as the people there were incredibly helpful in navigating the issues I faced.

Accomodation and Financial Insights

While commuting was a significant hurdle, accommodation was not an issue for me, as my relatives lived in Pune. The company provided travel and meals but did not offer any additional financial compensation. I was even offered a Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET) position by my senior, but I turned it down. My preferred work-life balance was not exactly spending 13-14 hours a day at a job.

Fun Experiences

Every day at LG was enjoyable, and I appreciated the fun aspects of my work environment. A quirky memory was my casual, oversized T-shirts — an unusual choice in a setting where everyone else wore formal shirts. My mentor and I eventually agreed to disagree on that one! I also formed a great friendship with my assistant manager, and we often went on late-night bike rides together. On some weekends, we trekked, and I even played football on the turf with my senior engineer friend.

Key Takeaways

From this experience, I have learned several key lessons that I would like to share with my juniors.

• First, be great at communicating with others. In a corporate environment, it’s common to not be able to finish your tasks on some days. However, you have to at least communicate and emphasise the progress you’ve made while trying to achieve the same. While this may seem cunning, it can be quite effective in an office setting to show that you are not neglecting your duties and are taking your time to thoroughly learn and execute different tasks.


• Always respect your seniors, as they possess a wealth of knowledge and experience.


• Finally, never hesitate to ask questions. The learning opportunities you encounter during an internship are vastly different from what you experience in college, and asking questions is crucial for your growth.