Floris Gunter
Tell us a bit about yourself.
“Hi there! I’m Floris, and currently in the second year of my master’s in aerospace engineering at TU Delft. As part of my studies, I got the chance to do an internship abroad, and so I ended up interning at Bosch here in the Bay area. In my free time I love to travel, hike and to explore cities. Luckily, California is the perfect place to do all those things!”
Why did you apply for the Internships in the Valley program?
“I was really excited by the prospect of doing my internship abroad. It is the perfect opportunity to experience a different culture and environment while you are still studying, and what better place is there to work than Silicon Valley? However, the competitiveness and all the requirements related to finding an internship in the United States can make it seem like an impossible target. You can use all the help you can get in order to gain an advantage compared to other applicants, and I believe the tips and tricks provided by Internships in the Valley not only gave me a good starting point when applying for vacancies, but also gave me the confidence to ace the interview once I was invited to one.”
How did you land your position with Bosch?
“It took a long time and a lot of applications, but I finally found an internship at Bosch in Sunnyvale that seemed interesting to me. After applying through LinkedIn, I was invited to an online interview. Even though the vacancy was in electrochemistry (a completely different field than aerospace engineering), my previous experience with and passion for fuel cells convinced my current supervisor that I would be a good fit. It was a good lesson for me that it’s not always about your qualifications, sometimes hiring managers are looking for someone with the right motivation and eagerness to learn, especially for internships.”
What’s your experience like so far working in the innovative and fast-paced environment of Silicon Valley? Any big cultural shocks?
“Working in Silicon Valley is awesome! The diversity of people and ideas here is incredible, and every day is a learning experience. One of the biggest cultural shocks for me was the car-centric lifestyle. Coming from the Netherlands, where cycling and public transport are a way of life, adapting to this new norm was quite a shift. Despite this, the Bay area still offers relatively good public transport options, and I've managed to explore a lot with just my bike. It's interesting to observe and adapt to these and other cultural differences, and it adds to the richness of this experience.”
It’s very clear that you’re passionate about sustainability and have a strong background in the aerospace sector. How have you been able to apply this passion and knowledge in your current internship role?
“As I mentioned earlier, my current internship is in a field not directly aligned with my studies. Therefore, especially at the start of my internship, there was a very steep learning curve that made some aspects quite challenging. Nonetheless, this also meant that I learned a lot, and that is what internships ultimately are for! Also, I often have a different perspective on how to solve certain challenges compared to my colleagues with different backgrounds. This diversity in thought is often what drives innovation. In internships, it's crucial to not only absorb knowledge but also to contribute your unique viewpoint – it can be more valuable than you think.”
How’s the social aspect of life in the Bay Area?
“It’s great to meet so many ambitious people from different backgrounds here in the Bay area. Americans are incredibly outgoing, and I didn't have any problems finding new friends here. The easiest way to meet new people is to try out new hobbies or sports, and there is so much to do in San Francisco that you can always find something that fits you well. It might take some time to get used to the culture here, as Americans are generally more indirect than Dutch people, but that is also part of the fun.”
You’re about halfway through your internship! Any ideas of your next steps when you return to the Netherlands?
“After my internship I will dive right back into my master’s program and start working on my thesis. It's going to be a significant shift from the practical, hands-on experience of the internship back to the academic world. As for long-term plans, I'm keeping an open mind. There are so many possibilities and paths to explore, and this internship has only broadened my perspective on the opportunities that lie ahead. I'm excited to see what the future will hold!”
What’s the story behind the mountain biking photo? Looks amazing!
“That photo is from a trip with my colleagues to Lake Tahoe. We were very lucky to have great weather mid-October and the fall colours made for some beautiful scenery. We spent an entire day exploring the Flume trail, which takes you along the mountains right next to Lake Tahoe. It was a great trip!”
“It’s not always about your qualifications, sometimes hiring managers are looking for someone with the right motivation and eagerness to learn, especially for internships.”
